The Coast News INLAND EDITION
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VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 10, N0. 4
FEB. 17, 2023
Razdan guilty of murder By Laura Place
ARIS KESHISHIAN, wearing sunglasses in bottom right photo, was stabbed to death in August 2021 while walking his dog near his home in San Marcos. Last week, a jury found Kellon Razdan, top right, guilty of first-degree murder in Keshishian’s death. Razdan, 21, and Keshishian, 20, attended elementary school and middle school together before graduating from San Marcos High School in 2019. Keshishian’s family said the two had not been friends since elementary school. Deputy DA Helen Kim, left, prosecuted the case. Courtesy photo (bottom right); Photos by Laura Place (left, top right)
VISTA — A jury found 21-year-old Kellon Razdan guilty of first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon on Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the fatal stabbing of a San Marcos man, a former classmate, after roughly two hours of deliberation, concluding a weeklong trial at the Vista courthouse. Razdan was charged with the August 2021 killing of Aris Keshishian, 20, near the victim’s home in San Marcos. Evidence indicated that Razdan drove to Keshishian’s gated neighborhood, where he was walking his dog, and stabbed him 44 times in a driveway with a Toldadi folding knife. Family and close friends of both Keshishian and Razdan were present for the reading of the verdict, which came just after 4:30 p.m. Razdan remained largely expressionless while his decision was read. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 10 at 1:30 p.m. Razdan faces a possible sentence of 25 years to life. Deputy District Attorney Helen Kim, who prosecuted the TURN TO GUILTY ON 19
Williams is choice to fill Vista gymnastics school sends trio to D-I schools vacancy on EUHSD board By Steve Puterski
By Samantha Nelson
ESCONDIDO — Last month, the Escondido Union High School District board appointed a new trustee to represent the northeast portion of the district after the seat was left vacant when the previous member was elected the city’s new mayor. Ryan Williams was unanimously appointed to Trustee Area No. 4 during the Escondido Union High School District board meeting on Jan. 24. Williams replaces Mayor Dane White, who stepped down from the board for his new role as mayor after he was
elected in November. Williams will serve the remaining two years of White’s previous term and plans to run for election in 2024. The new board member has lived in Escondido for 12 years now with his wife, Michelle, and their four young children. One of the big pulls for him to apply for the board vacancy is his interest in working and mentoring the youth. For years he has mentored teenagers and other young adults both at church and throughout his TURN TO BOARD ON 9
VISTA — Three of the region’s best gymnasts are training under one roof at Coastal Gymnastics Academy in Vista, preparing for their final stretch on the club circuit before hitting the collegiate mats. Student-athletes Chloe LaCoursiere, Takoda Berry and Jill Lastra will compete in NCAA Division I gymnastics programs next year at the University of Alabama, Clemson University and Sacramento State University, respectively. Under the leadership of Coastal Gymnastics ownJILL LASTRA, 17, speaks with a coach during a recent prac- er Ellie Gerber and coach tice at Coastal Gymnastics Academy in Vista. Lastra broke Ryan Lipinski, this trio of her back two years ago but has recovered and will compete female competitors has sucat Sacramento State next year. Photo by Steve Puterski cessfully navigated a jour-
ney filled with peaks and valleys, saltos and handsprings, devastating injuries and hard-fought victories. Each of the girls has attributed their development and success to the atmosphere, leadership and coaching philosophy under Gerber, who previously coached at Seawind Gymnastics in Carlsbad. LaCoursiere, 17, a Mount Carmel High School senior, discovered gymnastics 14 years ago while on a class field trip. Since then, LaCoursiere has grown into one of the best all-around gymnasts in the region and naTURN TO GYMNASTICS ON 5