The scene
Photo: Avi Mualem
Commander Avi Neuman
Photo: Michael Kremer
17-year-old killed in hit on Ramla felon
Teenage boy who happened to sit by man targeted by one of city's crime syndicates suffers fatal gunshot wound to the head; 'target' suffered severe chest injuries. 'Boy was at the wrong place at the wrong time,' says Central Police District chief
Seventeen-year-old Yiftah Mor Yosef was shot to death Wednesday night during an attempt on the life of a local Ramla felon. The target, a 36-year-old man, suffered serious injuries.
Both were rushed to Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Zerifin, where Mor, who suffered from a critical head injury, died overnight.
The gunmen fled the scene and Central Police District forces have launched a manhunt. The police believe that the shooting was a professional hit ordered by a local crime syndicate.
The scene (Photo: Avi Mualem)
According to initial information, the man – a known felon – was sitting on a bench in Ramla's Bar Ilan street. Around 10pm, the gunmen arrived at the scene riding a motorcycle. One of them pulled out a gun and began shooting at his target, who attempted to flee.
One of the bullets fired hit the teen, who happened to be sitting on the same bench, causing a fatal head injury.
In the line of fire
According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen pursued their target with guns blazing. The man suffered three gunshot wounds to the chest.
A police canvass was launched in an attempt to locate the shooters, but to no avail. Crime scene investigators reportedly recovered 20 bullet casings from the scene.
"This was an innocent civilian who was at the wrong place at the wrong time," Commander Avi Neuman of the Central Police District told Ynet.
"This is a criminal feud which matured into an assassination," he added. "This man is affiliated with one of the syndicates, but this wasn’t about settling any score. This was an internal feud.
"On the other hand, we are seeing a professional pattern: Gunmen on the back of a bike arrive at the scene, identify their target and fire. You can see their tenacity in the fact they chased him and in the number of bullets fired."
As for the slain teenager, Neuman believes that the gunmen did not even notice he was hit. "He was in their line of fire and they would stop at nothing to get to their target. This is a very serious case and I hope we'll have enough to get these murderers soon."
