Suspect Who Killed Police Officer in Nalbandyan Village Arrested

The investigation into the murder of one police officer and attempted murder of four others continues at the Armavir regional investigation department of the RA Investigative Committee. As previously reported, on September 7, 2024, operational data was received indicating that a 41-year-old resident of Nalbandyan village in the Armavir region was illegally possessing firearms in a "VAZ 210740 I" car registered under his brother’s name.

To verify this information, a group of officers from the Armavir regional department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia traveled to Nalbandyan village. According to the obtained investigative data, the police noticed the mentioned individual driving a "VAZ 2107" vehicle on the road from Nalbandyan village to Nor Artagers. The police stopped him and approached for arrest purposes.

Upon seeing the police and realizing the possibility of them discovering the illegally possessed firearms in his vehicle, as well as acting out of fear of arrest, the suspect, with intent to unlawfully deprive the police officers of their lives in a manner dangerous to others, opened fire towards the police officers with an "AK-74" assault rifle from within the vehicle and after exiting it, and then fled the scene.

As a result of the shooting, one police officer sustained injuries incompatible with life, and another officer received serious bodily injuries. The 41-year-old suspect did not fully achieve his criminal intent, as the life of the police officer who received a gunshot wound was saved due to timely medical assistance, and the other police officers managed to hide and evade the shots fired at them.

After committing the aforementioned alleged crimes, the suspect stored the illegally obtained "AK-74" assault rifle and 10 rounds of 5.45 mm caliber ammunition in an area of a barn located in the same village. These items were presented to the investigative department by the barn owner on September 8.

Based on the gathered sufficient evidence, public criminal proceedings have been initiated against the 41-year-old resident of Nalbandyan, and he has been charged under Article 155, Part 2, Clauses 1 and 7, Article 44-155, Part 2, Clauses 1 and 7 (four episodes), Article 452, Part 4, Clause 2 (two episodes), Article 44-452, Part 4, Clause 2 (three episodes), and Article 335, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code. He has been remanded in custody as a measure of restraint. The investigation is ongoing.