Roobik Vartanian, an employee of the club, had grabbed a gun from another employee, police said. He was shouting racial slurs and obscenities

officer shot and killed an armed man who had threatened to kill 2 other men early Saturday morning, according to Tampa Police.Investigators say officer Rick Harrell and his partner were patrolling the area around 7th Avenue just before 1:30 am when they heard 35 year old Roobik Vartanian, arguing with 2 Orlando men. Investigators say the men had just been kicked out of Club Prana for banging on the walls of the bar. Vartanian, an employee of the club, had grabbed a gun from another employee, police said. He was shouting racial slurs and obscenities and threatening to kill the men when officers arrived at the scene. When officer Harrell ordered him to drop the gun, investigators say he did not comply and instead pointed the gun at Harrell. Harrell fired one shot and hit Vartanian in the stomach. He was taken to Tampa General Hospital where he later died.
Investigators say Vartanian did not have a concealed weapons permit and had 6 prior felony arrests, as well as 4 misdemeanor arrests. Neither the officers or the other men were hurt.

Posted in: Club Prana