Dozens of people gathered Sunday afternoon in the home of an IDF soldier from the Desert Patrol Battalion who was murdered by
a fellow soldier following an argument between the two in the Negev mall in Beersheba.
Rahat Mayor Faiz Abu-Sabihan demanded that the army prevent soldiers from carrying their weapons when heading home.
"This is a very sad incident, we are currently trying to calm matters in both families in order to prevent a wave of violence," Abu-Sabihan told Ynet. "We spoke with them about patience and not taking matters into their own hands. Nevertheless the culpable party will be punished in accordance with the law."
The mayor also addressed Southern Command Chief Major-General Yoav Galant and urged him not to allow soldiers to head home with their personal weapons.
"The young soldiers' weapons should remain in the base. They use it in squabbles, shoot at weddings and today a young man was killed over a cellphone dispute. This is the only solution to the problem."
He noted that "today's youth are hotheads and don't think twice before using their weapons. It's like the wild west during weekends here."
The dead soldier's aunt said, "He was a beautiful boy, a good son. He had a fiancé and was meant to marry her after being discharged." Many of those who came to console the soldier's family served or are serving in the Bedouin Desert Patrol Battalion.
Despite the mayor's concerns, there is no known dispute between the families of the two soldiers and members of both families even met following the incident.
Nevertheless, the police are taking no chances, and as in any other murder case in Rahat, are bringing in reinforcements.
The incident occurred Sunday morning in the Beersheba mall's food court. The two soldiers were eating together when an argument broke out, apparently over the use of a cellphone or some minor affair. During the argument one of them drew his army rifle and shot his friend.
A Magen David Adom unit evacuated the soldier to the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba in critical condition suffering from chest wounds. He died shortly after.
The shooter was arrested at the scene and his weapon was confiscated.
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