Gunshots Fired During Celebration at 'Golden Rooster' Restaurant; Injured Party Taken to Hospital

According to SHAMSHYAN.com, on December 22, a resident of Garni village in the Kotayk region, 37-year-old Ara Hayrapetyan, has been arrested based on the decision of the head of the Kotayk regional investigative department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Mher Vardanian. The arrest was carried out under the direction of Tigran Baghyan, the senior investigator for particularly important cases at the Abovyan investigative division.

As reported from Kotayk region by photo journalist Gagik Shamshyan, on December 21, the police received information that a birthday celebration was taking place at the 'Golden Rooster' restaurant complex located in the village of Gohat. During this event, gunshots were heard.

During combined operational-investigative actions, police and investigators learned that during the birthday celebration, Ara Hayrapetyan, allegedly in an intoxicated state, displayed overt disrespect towards the participants and willfully and grossly violated public order by firing several random shots with an illegal firearm.

After firing the shots, Hayrapetyan left the scene in his BMW vehicle with license plate 35 MM 839 and, according to preliminary information, accidentally discharged the firearm inside the car, resulting in a gunshot wound to his left leg.

According to the photo journalist, he was transported to 'St. Grigor Lusavorich' medical center. G. Shamshyan also reports that police and investigators quickly located the firearm, which was confiscated by investigator's decision. It is noted that the arrested individual had a prior conviction for robbery and hooliganism.