Teen couple tries to commit suicide; boy killed by police
Young couple announces suicide pact; police tracks them down in an attempt to stop act. Teen fires at police; officers return fire, kill him. Girl suffers shock
Raz Atias, 18, was killed by Jerusalem Policemen on Friday, after attempting to commit suicide alongside his girlfriend, 17. Atias reportedly shot at the policemen, slightly injuring one of them. The officers returned fire, killing him.
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According to a police investigation, Atias sent a message to a news website on Thursday evening, stating that he was about to commit suicide with his girlfriend, whom police later learned is pregnant. The message said the two wish to end their lives due to personal matters, and that a suicide letter for their families was left in his home.
Atias' Facebook page
"You may find us according to our Facebook check-in later tonight. Good luck finding us. I would appreciate it if you notified our families. Please don't try to stop us." Atias wrote in his message.
Around 1am on Friday, the couple arrived at the woods near Beit Shemesh, where Atias fired in mid-air to test the gun. He then continued driving the car at high speed, and crashed into a security rail.
Police at the scene. (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Police found that the weapon used by Atias belonged to his father, an Major in the IDF.
As the policemen approached the car, Attias shot at them, injuring one of the police volunteers in the head; forcing the officer to fire back at him. He was immediately killed.
The girl was unharmed, but suffered shock and was taken for further medical examination at Hadassah Ein-Karem Hospital in Jerusalem.
According to the girl's testimony, the young couple planned their suicide a few days ago, and notified their friends about it. However, the girl later regretted the decision and told her boyfriend she did not wish to put an end to her life.
Attias will be laid to rest Friday, at noon.
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