Multiple Gunshots Fired at 28-Year-Old, Causing Life-Threatening Injuries: Investigative Committee

The Special Investigative Service of Armenia has completed the preliminary investigation into the murder of a 28-year-old man in the May 9th Street area of the Shengavit administrative district in Yerevan, involving seven defendants.

Following urgent and extensive investigative and procedural actions before the trial, as well as measures carried out in collaboration with the police, substantial circumstances related to the case, the motive, and the identity of eight individuals involved in the incident have been clarified. All eight are friends from the same neighborhood in Yerevan.

The investigation established that a dispute over a financial matter led to the murder of the 28-year-old resident of Yerevan, which was carried out in a manner dangerous to many lives. A resident of Hrazdan had intermediated for his acquaintances living in Yerevan to purchase a motorcycle, with an agreement to pay the amount within two days. However, the buyers failed to honor the agreement, and when the payment was demanded, they arranged to meet on June 9, 2020, at approximately 2:00 PM in the yard of building number 9 on May 9th Street, in the presence of the 28-year-old friend of the Hrazdan resident.

During the meeting, the young men could not reach an agreement regarding the disputed amount and left, later attempting to resolve the issue through phone calls, which escalated into a confrontation, after which they agreed to meet again.

However, shortly thereafter, at 4:55 PM on the same day, unexpectedly for the 28-year-old and the Hrazdan resident, the young man wishing to buy the motorcycle returned with a group of individuals who had pre-arranged to resolve their issues through force. Equipped with various types and calibers of firearms, including illegally obtained pistols, submachine guns, and a rifle, they aimed to intimidate the 28-year-old to the extent of killing him if necessary.

The group parked their vehicles towards the exit of the yard to secure a quick escape and prevent other vehicles from entering the area, thus ensuring the smooth execution of their actions. The conversation at the meeting turned into an argument, and the 28-year-old, sensing a threat to his life and health, retrieved a privately owned unregistered 9mm