Arab-Israeli shot dead after grabbing guard's gun, shooting passersby - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Sun., August 12, 2007 Av 28, 5767

Israel Time: 02:14 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Real Estate

Arts & Leisure

Jewish World

National

Sports

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Opinion

Business

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Travel

Q&A

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Arab-Israeli shot dead after grabbing guard's gun, shooting passersby

By Jonathan Lis

A security guard working in Jerusalem's Old City shot dead an Arab Israeli man in his 20s Friday morning after the man grabbed another guard's weapon and used it to shoot and wound several passersby. Ten people needed medical treatment after receiving gunshot wounds.

The security guard who shot Ahmed Khatib, Alex Nepelvich, was on patrol with his partner, Mikhail Popov, in the Christian Quarter when he shot the assailant with his handgun. The two security guards were working as security guards at the Ateret Cohanim yeshiva for Modi'in Ezrachi, a private security firm.

	Advertisement

The assailant - a resident of Kfar Manda in the western Galilee, according to security sources - grabbed Popov's gun while Nepelvich was inside a nearby grocery shop.

Witnesses said the assailant was walking with a friend on Hanotsrim Street near the Jaffa Gate, when he attacked Popov and shot him in the shoulder, moderately wounding him. The man was then seen making off with Popov's gun.

Upon hearing the shots, Nepelvich started to pursue the assailant on foot. Nine people were wounded as the guard and the assailant exchanged fire.

Police said five of the nine wounded were injured by shrapnel, and four from actual gunfire. Three of the wounded sustained moderate injuries, and the rest were lightly wounded. Magen David Adom emergency medical teams arrived to treat the wounded and evacuate them to Jerusalem hospitals.

Following a 10-minute gun battle, Nepelvich managed to kill the attacker. The deceased did not carry any identification, so the police needed several hours before they could begin to establish his identity.

The Acre Magistrate's Court issued a gag order preventing the media from exposing the the identity of the assailant and details of the investigation into the matter. The event is currently under the investigation of the Shin Bet security service and the Jerusalem District Police.

Witnesses told Israel Radio and other media that even after it was clear that the assailant had been killed, the guard continued shooting.

However, the police issued a statement based on footage from cameras stationed in the Old City they said showed that the guard "acted professionally and appropriately." After viewing the footage, Police Chief David Cohen said that the guard did not shoot the attacker after he was down as way to "confirm the kill."

Jerusalem District Police Commander Ilan Franco said that "the guard acted professionally," adding that "passersby were able to hide from the bullets, and the incident is currently under investigation." Police have so far refused to release the footage to the media.

A source involved with the investigation told Haaretz that after viewing the footage, he determined that the guard had indeed shot the assailant after the assailant already collapsed.

"The guard didn't confirm the kill, but he did make sure that the assailant no longer posed a threat," the source said. "He shot him after the assailant had already hit the ground, but was still holding the gun. He did so to make sure the assailant wouldn't try to shoot at him. The guard could not neutralize the assailant with a shot to the leg or stomach."

Following the incident, police raised the alert level ahead of Friday prayers in the Old City. Cohen said at the scene that "security in East Jerusalem is at its maximum level, and people can come visit."

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Green giant
	Yaniv Green's 16 points, 8 rebounds helped Israel beat Ukraine Saturday night.


	Raw catch
	Fresh fish need minimal treatment to become a delicacy worthy of any dinner table.

Today Online


	Arafat's doctor: There was HIV in his blood, but poison killed him
	Responses: 233


	Jerusalem source: Syria worried by Iran's bear hug
	Responses: 67


	Gideon Levy: Failure to uproot Hebron settlers is the real crime
	Responses: 119


	Hamas announces formation of new naval coast guard unit
	Responses: 79


	Carlo Strenger: Peres must address the pain of the religious right
	Responses: 58

More Headlines
22:05 Lantos: Early removal of roadblocks may resusciate terror attacks


22:18 Cabinet votes 21-5 in favor of proposed 2008 State Budget


22:02 Police release security video of Jerusalem shooting attack


02:14 Japan FM to declare renewed aid to PA during Mideast visit


23:26 Company commander who left soldier behind in Gaza receives citation in record


22:39 Report: Hezbollah buying up lands in southern Lebanon


23:15 Jordan mulling cheaper alternative to Red Sea-Dead Sea canal


17:04 Israel probing kickback claims against ambassador to Hungary


14:19 Foreign Minister, Palestinian PM to meet in W. Bank Wednesday


10:06 Sderot residents: Restraint policy on Qassams promoting war of attrition


23:09 Jerusalem source: Syria is worried by Iran's 'bear hug'