On the night of October 16, at around 4:30 a.m., police officers on night duty at the Arabkir protection division of the Main Department of State Protection of the Police noticed two individuals near the entrance of the “Victory” park. Upon seeing the patrol car, the latter fled.
The police officers pursued them and caught them on Freedom Avenue. The apprehended individuals resisted. During that time, one of them snatched the service pistol of one of the police officers and fired at one of them, also striking the other officer with the butt of the pistol. The latter fled the scene. As a result of the gunshot wound, Tigran Arakelyan, a 38-year-old police officer of the Arabkir protection division, died. A criminal case has been initiated in connection with the incident.
Thanks to the measures undertaken, the identities of the individuals who committed the attack have been established. Ashot Aharonian, head of the Information Department of the Police, wrote on his Facebook page: — “As a result of extensive and diverse investigative measures by a number of police units, two individuals have been identified and brought to the police on suspicion of killing a police officer with a firearm on Freedom Avenue.”
Later, the Investigative Committee issued a statement, in which it was specifically stated that the suspects are brothers, born in 2003 and 2001, and they have been arrested.
“During the preliminary investigation, it was established that hours before the incident, the brothers had committed a theft at one of the beauty salons of the Arabkir administrative district, after which they were noticed by police officers and fled,” the Investigative Committee’s statement said. — “A criminal case has been initiated regarding the apparent theft committed by the young men, the preliminary investigation of which is being conducted in the investigative department of the Arabkir administrative districts. A scene examination has been conducted in connection with the criminal case initiated regarding the theft, and the owner of the beauty salon has been questioned. During the preliminary investigation, it was established that the brothers had hidden the stolen goods under one of the bridges.”
A doctor at the “Saint Gregory the Illuminator” medical center stated that Tigran Arakelyan was brought to the hospital with the injured, but already dead, according to preliminary data, the bullet had reached his heart.
