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Teen Tagger Charged in Hollywood Shooting

5:28 PM EDT, July 1, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- A 16-year-old Burbank boy was charged today in the shooting of a Hollywood business owner, who was attacked after confronting the teen and an adult for allegedly tagging on the newly painted wall of his auto shop.

Edward Davtyan is scheduled to be arraigned July 9 on one felony count each of attempted murder and vandalism, along with gang allegations, according to Shiara M. Davila of the District Attorney's Office.

The teen's alleged accomplice is facing the same charges, which could result in up to 25 years to life in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office. His name is being withheld pending his arrest.

Prosecutors allege that the two left the scene June 25 after they were reprimanded for allegedly tagging on the walls of the auto body shop in East Hollywood, then returned that day to confront employees who had written down their license plate number.

One of the two defendants allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot the business owner once in the chest. An investigation is ongoing to determine which of the two defendants allegedly shot the man, according to Davila.

The victim, whose name was withheld, survived the attack and has since been released from the hospital.

The businessman and his brother had an ongoing problem with taggers who defaced a wall of their automotive business, and the siblings had recently painted over graffiti, according to Los Angeles police Sgt. Al Flores of the Northeast Station.