Family members of 46-year-old Doron Ben-Shalush, who was shot dead in a public restroom near the Kosel on erev Shabbos are looking for answers. They feel the security guard who fired ten shots acted unjustifiably. Doron’s daughter is quoted in the media questioning why the guard did not fire at his legs and why was he hit in the upper body ten times!
According to the guard and others, the victim shouted “Ala Akbar” as he reached to pull something from his pocket, which led the guard to believe he was a terrorist reaching for weapon.
The immigrant from France is a fairly well known entity at the Kosel. Those who knew him explain he was a frequent volunteer in the nearby Chabad soup kitchen. However, the guard who fired at him is a temporary fill in and he personally was not familiar with him.
Ichud Hatzalah EMT David Leff was at the Kosel for a bar mitzvah. He explains that he heard the shots and was among the first to arrive at the victim’s side, immediately beginning CPR. MDA paramedics tried to resuscitate the victim but were unsuccessful. MDA Paramedic Ze’ev Chafetz told reporters that when they arrived, the victim was in traumatic cardiac arrest. Ben-Shalush was eventually pronounced dead on the scene.
He is described as a “loner” who used to spend a considerable amount of time at the Kosel and the general area. He has a daughter who lives in Israel. His ex wife resides in France. Levaya arrangements to be announced.
The guard, a 25-year-old Druse citizen and former officer in the border police, remains in custody as the investigation continues. Police feel his actions were problematic, explaining he acted against protocol by firing at his upper torso and not his legs. In addition, police have learned from witnesses that the guard and Doron had an argument before the shooting took place. The guard is employed by the Modi’in Ezrachi Company.
His attorney, Kamel Kamel told reporters his client is a wonderful and responsible person as well as having an impressive record as an officer in the border police.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
The hiloni press, which had every reason to be sympathetic to the security guard, said he was homeless and apparently insane, raising questions not only as to why the guard was trigger happy (which he is supposed to be when someone does a terrorist imitation), but why his family wasn’t taking better care of him.