Pursuit, hitting police officers and shooting: drama on the streets of Beit Shemesh

An unusual incident occurred today, Wednesday, in Beit Shemesh, after a police attempt to stop a driver suspected of driving under the influence of drugs developed into a pursuit and ended in gunfire. According to initial details, during the arrest attempt, the suspect hit two police officers, whose condition was defined as mild, and at a certain point, fire was opened towards his vehicle. Rescue forces summoned to HaMa'apilim Street provided treatment to a man aged about 30 who was wounded in his upper body and evacuated him in serious condition to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem.

The incident began with a suspicion that a driver in Beit Shemesh was under the influence of drugs. The police sought to stop him, but a pursuit ensued. According to initial information, during the operation, the driver hit two police officers. Both were lightly injured.

At a certain point, fire was opened towards the suspect's vehicle. As of now, full details regarding the circumstances that led to the opening of fire have not been provided, and therefore it is not yet clear at what stage of the pursuit the shooting occurred and what exactly happened in the moments preceding it.

Following a report of shooting, MADA and Tzevet Hatzala responders were summoned to HaMa'apilim Street in Beit Shemesh. Upon arriving at the scene, they were directed to a man aged about 30 who was in a confused state of consciousness and suffering from penetrating injuries to his upper body.

"When we arrived at the scene, we were directed to a man aged about 30 in a confused state of consciousness with penetrating injuries to his upper body after being hit in a shooting incident. Together with other MADA and Tzevet Hatzala medics and paramedics, we provided him with initial medical assistance including stopping bleeding, bandaging, and respiratory support, and he was evacuated by a MADA intensive care ambulance in serious condition for further treatment at the trauma unit at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem," said Tzevet Hatzala volunteers Yehoshua Gottlieb and Avrumi Vizel.

Ichud Hatzala medics Asher Jungreis and Menachem Weizman added:

"We provided him with medical treatment that included stopping bleeding and bandaging, and afterwards he was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Hospital with his condition at this stage defined as serious."

Alongside the seriously wounded man, two police officers were injured during the arrest attempt. The police stated:

"A short time ago, during operational activity by Beit Shemesh station detectives, they noticed a vehicle driver who raised their suspicion that he was driving under the influence of drugs. During an attempt to check the suspect (31), he accelerated towards the police officers while hitting 2 of them. In response to the immediate danger posed to their lives, the police opened fire towards the vehicle in order to neutralize the danger."

The police officers were evacuated to the hospital in mild condition and the suspect was evacuated in serious condition accompanied by police for medical treatment.