Criminal Case Initiated Over Gunfire Incident in Lori: 3 Victims Are Brothers

On March 23, 2019, around 18:15, in one of the villages of Lori Province, a group of individuals fired shots at residents of the same village due to a domestic disagreement. They also assaulted the victims with wooden objects, hands, and feet.

As a result of the incident, three individuals were transported to the Spitak Medical Center with gunshot wounds. According to a report received by the Spitak Division of the Lori Regional Police from the medical center, one of the victims was diagnosed with gunshot wounds to the left shoulder and occipital region, another with gunshot wounds to the head and cerebral hemorrhage, and the third with penetrating gunshot wounds to the right wrist.

Following the incident, a criminal case was opened on the same day at the Lori Regional Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee under the characteristics of points 1, 6, and 7 of part 2 of Article 34-104, and point 1 of Article 235 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, with the investigation assigned to an investigative team. Seven individuals were recognized as victims.

As a result of extensive investigative and procedural actions carried out without delay, several circumstances of the incident have been clarified, including the motive and the incident's location. It has been established that three of the victims are brothers, while the other four also share familial ties with them. According to investigative data, the participants from the opposing side are also related to each other.

An examination of the scene has been conducted, witnesses have been interrogated, and a number of expert examinations—such as forensic medical, forensic ballistic, and others—have been ordered to clarify significant circumstances related to the criminal case.

The preliminary investigation is ongoing. Necessary investigative and operational-search measures are being carried out to clearly define the entire circle of participants in the incident, to individualize the actions of each of them, and to provide a legal assessment of their conduct. Information regarding procedural decisions made in the criminal case will be provided on a regular basis.