Police backtrack, no longer suspect terror motive in double homicide last month

Police backtrack on their previous assessment that the Arab Israeli teenager suspected in the killing of a married couple in central Israel acted on nationalist motives.

In light of “the latest developments and the evidence gathered, the suspicion that the incident has a criminal background is strengthening,” police say.

Ruslan and Olga Prihodko, a couple in their 40s from Rishon Lezion, were found shot dead in their car last month near Mishmar Ayalon in the Judean foothills. The couple is survived by their teenage son.

Police initially probed the case as a murder-suicide, then began investigating terror suspicions after it emerged that the husband’s licensed gun was not used in the killing.

The central suspect in the case, a 17-year-old Arab Israeli, was arrested last week on suspicion of involvement. Police now reportedly believe that the teenager had prior acquaintance with the couple.

According to Channel 12 News, the married pair would often travel for pleasure in the Judean foothills in search of antiquities. They ran into the suspect several times while he shepherded in the area, the outlet says.

Police are reportedly trying to figure out how the suspect acquired the gun he allegedly used in the killing.

The teenager’s father and three brothers, who were arrested on suspicion of involvement, were released today under restrictive conditions.

Four other suspects remain in custody, including the central suspect in the killing, police say.