A 12-year-old boy from the Israeli-Arab town of Jisr e-Zarka was seriously injured on Friday night after two armed gunmen opened fire at him.
At around 8 p.m. on Friday evening, Magen David Adom received a report about two people wounded in a violent incident in Jisr e-Zarka, and paramedics arrived on the scene to provide medical treatment, both to the seriously injured 12-year-old, as well as a 25-year-old. Both were transferred to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera for further treatment.
Israel Police forces seized a Carlo submachine gun and a pistol from the scene of the crime while collecting evidence, and are continuing to work to find the suspect behind the shooting.
While searching for the suspect, police forces operating in the area were alerted to the sound of gunfire and detected two suspects, both armed with illegally acquired weapons.
Police forces shot in the direction of the armed men, saying afterward they had believed their lives were in danger as a result of the gunfire. One of the armed gunmen, identified as 20-year-old Zahi Jarban, was shot dead in the exchange of fire.
Jarban, who was the cousin of the 12-year-old shot earlier that evening, is believed by police to have been seeking revenge, along with his older brother, on those who seriously injured his younger cousin.
Jarban's 25-year-old brother, Zahar Muhammad Jarban was seriously injured in the exchange of fire with police forces and was taken to Hillel Yaffe for treatment.
While visiting the crime scene, regional district commander for the Hof Region Asst.-Ch. Yoram Sofer said that "the police acted with determination and as expected of them, thus risking their lives in order to prevent injury to innocent people."
Spree of violent crime in Jisr e-Zarka
Earlier this month, a 13-year-old boy from the same town died in hospital after being shot in the chest while trying to escape a gunfight taking place nearby.
At the time of the incident, the minor was in a pizzeria in the town and tried to escape after hearing gunshots, for fear of being hurt.
However, as he was running from the scene, he was shot in the chest and critically wounded, and passed away in hospital several days later.