By Mary O’KEEFE

The Glendale Police Dept. – Robbery and Homicide Bureau has filed a murder charge with a weapon enhancement with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office on Monday against Vahan Keshishyan, 28, of La Crescenta.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office released the victim’s identity as Ordean Neva, 63. The cause of death has been recorded as “multiple sharp injuries.”

“The victim was providing pool cleaning services at the time of the incident,” stated Kevork Kurdoghlian, police spokesperson.

On Feb. 14, Glendale police responded at 2:14 p.m. to a 9-1-1 call of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 3300 block of Reta Street.

           “Initially the report came in as an assault with a deadly weapon and there was a person down at the location,” said Sgt. Victor Jackson, GPD spokesman. “We did not see the suspect upon arrival.”

Concerned for public safety, three nearby schools – Valley View Elementary, Clark Magnet High School and Dunsmore Elementary School – were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure. Subsequently, officers were able to pinpoint the suspect’s location within a residence on Reta Street, prompting the lifting of the school lockdowns and allowing for the safe departure of students.

The Glendale Police Dept.’s Crisis Negotiation Team and SWAT team were deployed to the scene to initiate negotiations with the male suspect; however, he did not at first communicate with the officers.

After several hours, the suspect, Keshishyan, surrendered to SWAT operators. Tragically, officers found an individual who had succumbed to his injuries at the scene, according to Jackson.

Detectives and forensics personnel continued to process evidence at the scene on Reta Street.

GPD responded to the location in the past regarding a disturbance but an arrest was not made at that time, and Jackson did not have any more information concerning that prior incident.

This investigation is ongoing. Keshishyan is being held on a $2,020,000 bail and his next court date is March 4.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Glendale Police Dept. immediately by calling (818) 548-4911.