Suspects apprehended following theft of $60,000 in cash and checks during a California wedding reception.
In a surprising turn of events, two men, Armean Shirehjini and Andranik Avetisyan, have been arrested in connection with the theft of thousands of dollars in cash and checks from a wedding reception in Glendale, California, on Aug. 31.
The incident occurred at a banquet hall, where the bride, Nadeen Farahat, described the moment as immediately stopping the music and her sobbing on the dance floor with friends and cousins. Surveillance footage shows the suspect, later identified as Shirehjini, entering the banquet hall shortly before midnight, taking a gift box containing an estimated $60,000 in cash and checks, and exiting the building. The suspect was observed at the reception for approximately 90 minutes, watching the dance floor before the theft.
Shirehjini was identified as the primary suspect in the theft through video surveillance and other resources. His accomplice, Avetisyan, was arrested alongside him and is suspected of acting as the getaway driver. Police carried out searches of both men's homes and recovered a large amount of cash and dozens of checks made out to the couple whose wedding was being celebrated when the theft occurred.
Meanwhile, police are investigating the incident further and have not yet disclosed the charges the men face. In a separate incident, a raid in upstate New York led to the detention of dozens of individuals at a food manufacturer.
Elsewhere, Hurricane Kiko is currently under a state of emergency in Hawaii. Authorities have been preparing for potential flooding, high winds, and power outages.
In a different development, several firearms and drugs were seized from other residences, according to police, but no further details have been released. The person presumed to be involved as the driver of the black Mercedes SUV in the kidnapping of the money envelope during the wedding celebration, apart from Shirehjini and Avetisyan, is not publicly identified.
As the investigation into the wedding theft continues, the community awaits updates on the case and the fate of the stolen funds.
