Details of the Murder at a Store: What Two Lines Did the Shooter Leave Behind?

On April 3, 2024, reports emerged that at around 11:30 AM, a 32-year-old man opened fire with a handgun at an employee in a mobile phone store on Maxim Gorky Street in Dilijan city. Following this, he shot himself in the head, resulting in his immediate death.

After the incident, the injured employee, who was found to be the man's wife's sister born in 1987, was transferred to a medical center with a diagnosis of 'gunshot wound to the head,' where she also succumbed to her injuries at 12:51 PM the same day.

An investigation has been launched by the Tavush regional investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee under Article 155, Part 1 (murder), Article 162, Part 1 (inducing suicide), and Article 335, Part 1 (illegal circulation of weapons and ammunition) of the RA Criminal Code, entrusted to an investigative group.

During the investigation, a site examination was conducted, during which the body of the 32-year-old man was discovered on the floor with a gunshot wound to the right side of the head, along with a Makarov-type handgun, spent cartridges, and bullets. On a table, an envelope containing a handwritten note was found, left in the name of the 32-year-old man, detailing the motive for killing his wife's sister.

Additionally, the investigating authorities reviewed the recordings from the store's security cameras, interviewed several witnesses, and appointed forensic medical and ballistic examinations. As a result of extensive urgent investigative actions, it has been established that on April 3, 2024, at around 11:30 AM, the 32-year-old man entered the store and approached the service desk where the store manager and the employee were present. He loaded his Makarov-type handgun and aimed it at his wife's sister.

Then, discussing family issues, he fired at her head. Immediately after, he aimed the gun at the right side of his head and committed suicide.

The investigation is ongoing. It is noteworthy that earlier reports indicated that an employee of the Artsakh National Security Service had shot his sister-in-law in a store and then committed suicide.