Relative of killer: ‘He is not of sound mind’; father is police volunteer

Sami Milhem, a relative of the killer who has also served as his lawyer, tells Channel 2 that he is “not of sound mind.”

He says the gunman’s father — who called police after recognizing his son in security footage of the killing — is a police volunteer.

“This boy does not have anti-state tendencies,” he adds.

(A gag order prevents publication of the name of the alleged gunman.)

Sami Milhem says “I’m staggered, horrified” that his relative carried out the attack.

He says he doesn’t know if the killer had become an Islamic extremist.

He says the killer is not married.

He suggests that the killer has had treatment for a mental disorder but is not specific. Evidently, “he was not treated properly,” the relative says.

He acknowledges that the killer served time in an Israeli jail, and says it was over “a dispute” with a soldier whose weapon he tried to grab.