A 21-year-old pizzeria worker who was stabbed in Petah Tikva on Independence Day died from his wounds in Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, on Thursday.
According to the ongoing investigation, a group of 10 teenagers waited for the worker, later identified as recently released IDF soldier Yemanu Binyamin Zalka, outside the pizzeria and attacked him when he finished his shift.
Magen David Adom paramedics arrived at the scene at approximately 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday morning, saying that Zalka was found unconscious. Zalika was evacuated in critical condition, but did not survive.
As of Friday, no suspects have been arrested, with authorities continuing efforts to identify all those involved, particularly the individual responsible for the killing. Following a situational assessment, the case was transferred to the Sharon District’s serious crime unit on Thursday. A gag order has been issued on the case.
According to the investigation, the incident began after Zalika asked a group of teenagers to stop spraying foam inside the pizzeria and near its customers.
Mayor, colleagues, react to stabbing of pizzeria worker
Petah Tikva Mayor Rami Greenberg said, "This was a young man who worked to support himself, who politely asked a group of teens not to shoot snow spray inside the pizzeria where he worked, and in response, he was stabbed to death."
"There are no words to describe the intensity of the shock and pain of losing young lives in such harsh and cruel circumstances," Greenberg added.
"This is an incomprehensible event that illustrates how violence can escalate in an instant and exact the heaviest price. The teens who attacked and murdered him will be caught by the police and brought to justice," he continued.
"I call on all youth to refrain from violence. There is no heroism in it, only destruction. A moment of anger can destroy the entire life of the victim, the family, and even the attackers themselves," he said.
"To the parents, I ask them to talk to your children - be involved, take an interest, check where they are hanging out and with whom, especially at night. The responsibility is shared by all of us. This is a moment for self-reflection. We must work together to prevent the next instance," he added.
The pizzeria manager described the murdered worker as "a good kid with good values who always had a smile on his face and was kind to everyone."
He was a "man who loved to work and was hardworking," the manager said.
The murdered worker started at the branch as a delivery driver on a bicycle, then on a motorcycle, and then recently became a shift supervisor.
"I'm shocked this has happened here. I can't calm down from it. He was such a good person. How could someone be murdered over something so stupid? He had his whole life ahead of him. We are in complete shock," a colleague said.