Shootout in the Heart of Ashkelon and Arrest at a Hideout

A gang war in the heart of a residential neighborhood in Ashkelon nearly ended in a major disaster. Exclusive footage published this evening (Tuesday) for the first time on News 14 shows the moments of a confrontation that escalated into a shootout near residential buildings, kindergartens, and public institutions. Following a lengthy investigation, police managed to locate the main suspect, who was arrested and charged with a serious indictment.

The incident occurred about two months ago in the Shimshon neighborhood in Ashkelon. The footage shows several men standing in a parking lot near a residential building. At a certain point, other individuals arrive at the scene in two vehicles, and a verbal confrontation develops. One of the arrivals pulls out an object resembling a pistol and points it at the other group, after which both vehicles begin to leave.

However, according to the indictment, 43-year-old Ashkelon resident Shalom Zaguri pulled out a pistol and fired at least two shots at the departing vehicles. In response, a shootout developed in the heart of a residential area, very close to kindergartens and public institutions, endangering public safety. According to the indictment, immediately after the shooting, Zaguri hid the loaded pistol in bushes near the building and fled. For several months, police officers from the Ashkelon station of the Lachish district conducted an intensive investigation to track down the primary suspect.

At the conclusion of the investigation, police located Zaguri while he was staying in a vacation rental (tzimmer) in the north of the country with another person. Several mobile phones and SIM cards were seized. He was arrested and later broke down during interrogation. The Southern District Attorney's Office filed an indictment against Zaguri in the District Court in Beersheba, charging him with weapons offenses and firing a firearm in a residential area in a manner that endangered human life.