Fight Triggered by Dog Barking Turns into Stabbing Incident

The investigation into a case of attempted murder and hooliganism linked to the use of a weapon has concluded at the Shengavit administration of the Yerevan Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee, the public relations department of the Committee reports.

Through extensive investigative and procedural actions conducted during the pre-trial process, the circumstances of the incident and the identities of the individuals allegedly involved in the crime have been established.

Specifically, it has been determined that on July 9, 2020, a party took place at one of the houses on Aragats Street in Yerevan. Around 10:00 PM, two participants stepped out to buy beer when a quarrel started with a married couple from the same neighborhood who were walking down the street over the barking of a dog. During the altercation, one of the youths poured beer on the dog.

Receiving a reprimand from the dog's owner, the young men, acting on a minimal motive and fueled by hooligan instincts, highlighted their authority over the group and, complementing each other's actions, assaulted the owner by hitting him in the face and throwing him to the ground.

At that moment, other participants of the party entered the courtyard in a Mercedes vehicle and continued to physically assault the man as a group, hurling insults. This drew the attention of his wife, who intervened in an attempt to calm the situation, but one of the youths struck her on the head with a beer bottle.

Investigative actions also revealed that other party participants from a different gathering on the same street were involved. One of them believed that an accident had occurred due to the loud noises from the incident and the sound of a car braking and informed the attendees.

Upon hearing the news, party participants descended to the courtyard, where one individual attempted to stop a friend who was under the influence of alcohol and was trying to approach the gathered crowd. However, he deliberately attacked the obstructionist's left chest with a knife he was carrying.

Having overcome this obstacle, the man approached the quarrel participants and, as a group, started to inflict violence upon them, also attacking those attempting to mediate the situation. During this time, he stabbed two individuals with his knife, causing bodily harm. The altercation continued, during which he exhibited open disrespect towards residents of the nearby buildings, hurling insults, creating a climate of fear, and throwing beer bottles at individuals in the courtyard, damaging a parked Ford Focus vehicle.

Meanwhile, one participant of the incident took a wooden bat from the Mercedes vehicle and struck one of the assailants in the face.

Based on the collected sufficient evidence, charges have been filed against two individuals under Part 4 of Article 258 of the RA Criminal Code, and one under Part 1 of Subparagraph 1 of Part 3 of Article 258. A preventive measure of a non-leaving signature has been imposed on them. Another individual has been charged under Part 10 of Part 2 of Article 34-104 and Part 4 of Article 258, with pre-trial detention applied as a preventive measure.

The investigation has concluded, and the criminal case has been sent to the supervising prosecutor with a motion to approve the indictment and forward it to the court.