Bank shooting: Police evacuates victim in handcuffs
Bedouin Omar Walid lost his best friend at Beersheba massacre, yet took bullets for others. Police: All evacuees from shooting were handcuffed until identified beyond doubt
Omar Walid and Idan Sabri went to the Beersheba branch of Hapoalim Bank together, where the 22-year-old Sabri found his death at the hands of shooter Itamar Alon along with three others. Walid, Sabri's best friend, from the Bedouin town of Rahat, was seriously injured and evacuated to hospital handcuffed.
Earliest reports from the scene were based on the assumption that the injured Bedouin was one of the aggressors rather than a victim.
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Walid's condition has since stabilized, yet he remains unconscious and on life support in the intensive care unit of the Soroka Medical Center. The director of the trauma unit, Professor Gadi Shaked said that "he underwent a several hour-long surgery and continues to receive support." His condition is regarded as difficult as he is suffering from four gunshot wounds to the back and stomach.
"He went to help Idan," his brother said. "They've been friends for five or six years, worked together in Beersheba in all kinds of jobs such as gardening. I gather there was an argument with the killer at the bank. He probably spoke to Idan, then Omar intervened, and the shooting kicked off. Omar got a few bullets."
Remo Vaknin, who identified Walid as the man who was lay upon him and took the bullets intended for him, arrived at the hospital. "He saved my life," said Vaknin, who too was handcuffed in the midst of the event. Police explained that due to the severity of the incident an operational decision was made to handcuff all the people at the scene who were not identified.
Omar Walid's brother (L), Vaknin (photo: Aviad Nelvitski)
Police said they escorted all handcuffed persons until their involvement in the case was ruled out beyond doubt.
Beersheba Mayor Rubik Danilovitch also paid Walid a visit at the hospital, saying that "he is a citizen of Israel who, I am told, also defended people with his body. His best friend was Idan. This is common destiny."
Relatives and friends of Monday's bank shooting victims gathered in front of the bank Tuesday, to pay tribute to the four people who were murdered by Itamar Alon Monday before he took his own life.
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