Scene of shooting
צילום: גור דותן
Report: Palestinian stone-thrower wasn't killed by settler fire
Forensic findings refute police assessment that teenager stoning cars in West Bank died of gunshot wounds inflicted by local settler; cause of death remains undetermined
The Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine determined Wednesday that Nasser al-Arj, a Palestinian teen killed Tuesday after stoning a settler's car, did not die of a gunshot wound.
The medical examiner listed al-Arj's cause of death as "undetermined."
Tuesday evening saw a stoning incident in which a resident of the West Banks settlement of Emanuel, who apparently feared for his life after his vehicle came under a stoning attack, fired at the perpetrators.
The man filed a police report stating he fired in midair, but made no note of any casualties.
An IDF force dispatched to the area found two Palestinians, one – al-Arj – in critical condition and the other unscathed. Magen David Adom paramedics called to the scene had no choice but to pronounce al-Arj dead at the scene.
The teen had a prior police record, consisting mostly of rioting and stoning charges.
Following the incident, security forces began canvassing the area, eventually detaining the settler, who was later questioned and remanded by the Judea and Samaria Police.
The police are expected to release the settler, since the forensic findings no longer warrant his arrest.
