19-Year-Old Sought in Murder Case

The Investigative Committee of Armenia's Yerevan City Division has announced a search for a suspect in a murder case that unfolded in front of the "Queen Burger" fast-food outlet.

On March 19, 2019, at 6:20 PM, the Yerevan State Medical University Hospital received a call from the Erevan police station regarding a resident from Shirak region, born in 1990, who was admitted with a "stab wound to the left side of the chest" and subsequently died without regaining consciousness.

Following this incident, a criminal case was opened on March 19, 2019, under Part 1 of Article 104 of the Armenian Criminal Code. The 28-year-old victim has been officially recognized.

Through immediate investigative actions and operational-search measures conducted by the Yerevan City Division of the Police, the Erevan division, and the relevant prosecutorial staff, several key circumstances surrounding the case have been clarified, including the motive, scene of the incident, and the identity of the alleged perpetrator, a 19-year-old resident born in 2000.

Necessary investigative actions have been undertaken; blood-like traces and a folding knife were found at the scene near the "Queen Burger" outlet, while samples were collected and the victim's clothes at the time of the incident were seized. Witnesses were interrogated, an identification investigation was conducted, and forensic, genetic, and trace evidence examinations have been appointed.

A decision was made to establish an investigative team to handle the ongoing inquiry.

During the preliminary investigation of the murder case, further revelations occurred indicating that the same 19-year-old suspect was involved in a separate incident. On December 24, 2018, during a dispute related to interpersonal relations in front of a building in the Sari Tagh neighborhood, he allegedly attacked a 45-year-old man born in 1974 with a sharp cutting instrument, thus making him a victim as well.

Considering sufficient factual evidence that both crimes are suspected to have been committed by the same individual, the decision was made to consolidate the cases into a single proceedings for a comprehensive and thorough investigation.

A decision has been reached to charge the 2000-born young man under Part 1 of Article 104 and Part 1 of Article 112 of the Armenian Criminal Code. As a preventive measure, arrest has been chosen, and a search has been declared.

The preliminary investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to ensure an objective, complete, and comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances of both incidents. Instructions have been given to the relevant police division to implement active measures to locate and bring in the suspect.