Citizen Opens Fire During Dispute Over Grazing Sheep: Details

The Investigative Committee of the Ararat region of Armenia has initiated a criminal case regarding an attempted murder using illegal firearms in a manner that posed a danger to many lives. This was reported by the committee.

According to preliminary data, on January 22, 2019, at 5:30 PM, a resident of Surenavan village reported to the Ararat Police Department that on the same day, around 3:30 PM, a fellow villager had opened fire on three residents of Surenavan village with an AK-47 assault rifle.

A criminal case was initiated on January 22, 2019, in the Vedi investigative department under Article 34-104, Part 2, Clause 6, and Article 235, Part 1 of the Armenian Criminal Code.

During the pre-trial investigation, it was revealed that a resident of Surenavan village, born in 1997, shot in the direction of three other residents born in 1972, 1984, and 1987 during a dispute regarding the grazing of his sheep on a land parcel belonging to another villager and the compensation for the material damage caused thereby.

The latter have been recognized as victims.

Four shell casings from the assault rifle were found at the scene, alongside two different locations that contained blood-like traces. A vehicle, a "VAZ 2121", belonging to the person suspected of the crime was also discovered at the scene.

Forensic medical, forensic biological, forensic ballistic, and comprehensive forensic examinations have been commissioned. The investigation is ongoing. Authorities have been instructed to take measures to locate the individual who allegedly committed the crime and present them to the prosecuting authority.