A vehicle theft in Jerusalem ended overnight with the death of the suspected thief and the light wounding of a police officer and a civilian. The incident began after police received a report of a vehicle stolen from the Katamon neighborhood.
Following the report, Jerusalem District patrol teams were dispatched to the area, including officers from the Moriah, Lev HaBira and Shalem police stations.
The officers located the stolen vehicle while it was being driven and began efforts to stop it safely. The suspected driver ignored police instructions, refused to pull over and began fleeing recklessly. During the escape, he drove against traffic, seriously endangering police officers and other motorists.
Due to the immediate danger posed by the suspect and his failure to respond to repeated demands to stop, officers fired at the vehicle's tires. The suspect continued driving despite the gunfire, eventually reaching the At-Tur junction, where he lost control of the vehicle, crashed into a tree and collided with a private car.
A police officer and a civilian were evacuated from the scene with light injuries and were taken for medical treatment. The suspected thief, whose identity has not yet been established, was evacuated in critical condition while paramedics attempted to resuscitate him. He was later taken to a hospital, where medical personnel were forced to pronounce him dead.