Beloved Civil Rights Lawyer Gunned Down by His Brother After Family Feud

A well-known Los Angeles civil rights attorney was shot and killed inside his family home just days after Christmas — allegedly by his own brother — following a bitter dispute over the property he spent years building from scratch.

Police say 33-year-old Krikor Kouyoumdjian, a respected lawyer and community volunteer, was found dead Saturday afternoon at the family’s $1.3 million residence on Noble Avenue in North Hills.

According to sources close to the family, the fatal confrontation erupted after Krikor told his younger brother, Alexander Kouyoumdjian, 30, to move out. “Krikor wanted his brother gone. He had been patient for years, but tensions were boiling,” the insider told the New York Post.

When officers arrived at 1:45 p.m., they found Krikor dead from gunshot wounds. Alexander was taken into custody at the scene without incident, according to LAPD officials.

Friends say the house was more than just a property. It was Krikor’s dream — a project he poured his soul into while putting himself through law school.

“He literally built that home himself,” one friend said. “He slept in his car some nights, even in a tent, while he worked on it.”

The finished home became a gathering place for family and friends, complete with a backyard orchard of 35 rare fruit trees — all planted by Krikor.

Outside the courtroom, Kouyoumdjian was known as a mentor to children. For more than a decade, he volunteered every Thursday night at the Center for Early Education, a prestigious private school in West Hollywood where he coached fifth- and sixth-grade debate teams.

“He was beloved,” Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier, whose child attended the school, told reporters. “He was incredible, and the kids loved him. They just melted into him because the guy was a teddy bear.”

Frazier’s wife, an attorney, also worked alongside Kouyoumdjian. “This kid was a beautiful human being,” Frazier said. “We’re all trying to wrap our heads around it because everyone loved him. He was the last person you’d ever fear — a gentle soul through and through.”

News of his death has devastated local families and legal colleagues alike. The Center for Early Education community is reportedly planning a candlelight vigil in his honor later this week.

“He never bragged about his success or the high-profile parents at the school,” one parent said. “He cared about the kids, not the Hollywood stuff.”

Police are still piecing together the final moments before the shooting. A law enforcement source described it as “a family tragedy that turned violent fast.”

For now, Krikor’s friends are left mourning a man remembered not for his career accolades, but for his kindness.

“He was the type of person who gave you hope about humanity,” Frazier said quietly. “And now he’s gone because of something senseless.”