2 arrested in mascot's death

Almost a year after the death of former UNC mascot Jason Ray, two New Jersey men have been arrested in connection with the car accident that killed him.

Gagik Hovsepyan, 52, and his son Armen Hovsepian, 25, both of Paramus, N.J., were arrested Thursday night on several charges by Bergen County, N.J., police.

At the time of the incident – which police determined to be accidental – Gagik Hovsepyan told investigators that he had been driving the vehicle that struck Ray.

But on the day of the accident, an eyewitness told police that it was Armen Hovsepian who got out of the driver’s seat after the accident.

Further investigation after the incident uncovered that Armen Hovsepian was driving on a suspended license, according to a press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

Armen Hovsepian was charged with one count of driving with a suspended license in a fatal vehicle accident and one count of hindering apprehension. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to five years in prison.

His father, Gagik Hovsepyan, was charged with one count of hindering apprehension, one count of obstructing the administration of law and one count of making a false statement under oath – charges that could carry a penalty of up to 18 months in prison.

Gagik Hovsepyan was released on $10,000 bond, while his son was held in Bergen County Jail on Friday night.

“I was a little dumbstruck that it took this long for something to happen,” said Tyler Treadaway, a UNC mascot and Ray’s friend. “It doesn’t put closure on it, but it is good to know the right things are being put away.”

Ray was walking on the shoulder of Route 4 in East Rutherford, N.J., near the hotel where he was staying with the UNC men’s basketball team, when he was hit. He had accompanied the team for the Sweet 16 tournament.

“To have wounds reopened up almost a year later is something that neither of us asked for,” said Brad Lockwood, another mascot and friend of Ray. “It’s a lot more information to hang on to when we were just trying to find closure.”

With the case still ongoing, Treadaway and Lockwood said it’s making healing even harder.

“Better late than never might be the best way to describe it,” Treadaway said. “We haven’t been sitting here . wanting to get back at people, we’ve just been trying to do best by doing what (Jason) told us to do.”

And Ray’s story also has served as a lesson in saving lives. As an organ donor, Ray saved the lives of at least four people in the New Jersey area.

In October, ESPN aired a segment about Ray’s life and his decision to become an organ donor. The show profiled the four people who received his organs.

His parents are now advocates for organ donation and have spoken to UNC cheerleaders and other groups about becoming organ donors.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.