Two persons killed in southwest Moscow shooting identified

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 3, 2005 Thursday

Two persons killed in southwest Moscow shooting identified

MOSCOW

Police established the identify of two of the three persons killed in
a shooting in southwestern Moscow earlier on Thursday.

The victims were identified as Armenian nationals, Roman Arakelyan,
23, and his brother Vartan, aged 34. The identity of the third person
is being ascertained.

Preliminary reports said the victims were businessmen.

The incident occurred at the crossing of Akademik Pilyugin and
Garibaldi Streets at approximately 14:00, Moscow time.

Unidentified attackers fired an assault rifle on a Mercedes and the
accompanying vehicle, killing three people outright and wounding
another two, including a passer-by.

It might have been a gangland murder, a law-enforcement official told
Itar-Tass.

At present, police are conducting an operation to find the criminals.
Security was tightened at city exits and traffic police posts.

City prosecutors opened a criminal investigation.