14-year-old dies of wounds sustained when shot while playing with gun with friends
Two friends of Uri Portal reportedly will face charges of negligent homicide over Rishon Lezion incident, but due to age will likely go to rehabilitation program instead of prison
A 14-year-old boy who was shot in Rishon Lezion on Sunday while playing with a handgun with his friends has died, Hebrew media reported Tuesday.
The teen was identified in the reports as Uri Portal. He will be buried Tuesday at Holon Cemetery.
Police suspect that Portal and two of his friends, one aged 13 and one aged 16, were playing with a licensed firearm belonging to the 16-year-old’s father. According to the initial investigation, the teens fired several bullets, and one of them hit Portal in the chest, fatally wounding him.
Portal was taken to Wolfson Medical Center in Holon in critical condition, where he died of his wounds.
The two teens involved in the incident were detained for questioning on Sunday, and the father of the 16-year-old, who was abroad at the time of the incident, will be questioned upon his return to Israel as well.
The 13-year-old was holding the gun at the time of the shooting, the Kan public broadcaster reported.
Police said that Portal was hit after crossing the line of fire, according to their initial assessment.
One of the teens tried to resuscitate Portal and called rescue services, police confirmed to Channel 12 news, adding that their reaction to the shooting was relatively responsible.
The two boys are expected to be charged with negligent homicide, Kan reported, but due to their age, they will likely be sentenced to a rehabilitation program, rather than prison.
Speaking to the Ynet news outlet Sunday after the incident, Central District Police Commander Yair Chatzroni advised parents to be cautious and to ensure their firearms are stored in a safe place, particularly in light of the upcoming summer vacation, when their children will be at home more.
The Times of Israel Community.