Former police colonel’s son detained after firing gun during dispute in Yerevan

A 28-year-old man has been detained in Yerevan following a shooting incident that took place during a domestic dispute between neighbors.

The individual—identified as Ashot Shahnazaryan, the son of a former high-ranking police colonel—opened fire during a confrontation on Griboyedov Street in the Armenian capital. Although a shot was discharged from a pistol, no injuries were reported, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The situation reportedly escalated from a verbal altercation into an armed conflict. In an apparent attempt to conceal evidence, Shahnazaryan's brother allegedly discarded a spent shell casing in a nearby trash container. However, investigators located and recovered the casing, along with the firearm used in the incident.

The suspect was subsequently taken into custody and transferred to the Arabkir District Investigation Department for further questioning. Local sources indicate that Shahnazaryan comes from a prominent family with deep ties to Armenia’s law enforcement and public administration sectors. His father previously served in senior roles within the Armenian Traffic Police, while his grandfather, also named Ashot Shahnazaryan, once headed the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition.

By Vafa Guliyeva