Store Owner Wounded During Robbery

A 48-year-old jewelry store owner was shot and wounded Friday during a robbery by three men who were interrupted by the arrival of police, authorities said.

Suren Sultanian, owner of Heritage Jewelers at 3622 Katella Ave., was hospitalized and listed in satisfactory condition after being shot in the abdomen.

A witness called police about 11 a.m. to report that four men were outside the store, going in and out and acting suspiciously, police Capt. Mike Sellers said.

Police allege that Keyawn Lloyd Cook, 23, of Los Angeles, entered the store pretending to purchase jewelry. He was later joined by two other men, police said, one of whom drew a small-caliber handgun.

Sultanian was pistol-whipped and shot at point-blank range by one of the suspects, according to authorities. The fourth man waited outside in a car.

When police arrived, three suspects fled on foot and the fourth drove off.

Seal Beach and La Palma police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and air support units from Long Beach and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department scoured the area for hours looking for the suspects.

The suspected getaway car was found abandoned, and Cook was arrested in the laundry room of a nearby apartment complex. Larry Cade, 22, of Los Angeles was arrested in a strip mall after a search by a foot patrol.

Police did not disclose whether either Cook or Cade is believed to have been the gunman.

A third suspect, a juvenile, was arrested after barricading himself in a residence in the 3600 block of Green Avenue. The fourth man is still being sought.

“I think the robbery was really worthless,” said 14-year-old Sevag Kazanci, who is the nephew of the owner and works next door at Katella Cleaners.

Kazanci said his uncle had a sense of humor and had winked at him and attempted to laugh as he was carried away by the paramedics.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Dan Doy at (310) 431-1344.