Lod man shot dead in suspected revenge killing

30-year-old victim was gardener employed by city’s municipality, which describes shooting as ‘a family conflict in the Arab community’

A 30-year-old man was shot dead in the central city of Lod on Tuesday, in a suspected revenge killing.

Paramedics from the Magen David Adom ambulance service declared Sabri Musrati dead at the scene after finding him with severe gunshot wounds and no signs of life.

Musrati was apparently sitting in his vehicle when gunmen pulled up next to him and opened fire, according to the Maariv daily. He tried to escape, but collapsed on the road and died.

Police said they opened an investigation into the incident and were searching the area for suspects.

The shooting is suspected to be revenge for the killing of Marwan Wachwach in August, the Kan public broadcaster reported. A feud between the families has claimed several lives over the past two years, according to the broadcaster.

Musrati worked as a gardener for the Lod Municipality, which released a statement expressing its grief, adding that the shooting was the result of “a family conflict in the Arab community.”

Lod Mayor Yair Revivo called on Prime Minister Yair Lapid to mobilize reserve police officers to address crime in the city and also requested assistance from the Shin Bet security service.

“The police are stretched to the limits and do not have the tools to deal with the criminal terror wave happening here, at the same time as the nationalist terror wave in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria,” said Revivo, using the Biblical names for the West Bank.

According to the Abraham Initiatives, which tracks violence in the Arab community, 89 Arabs have been killed in homicides in Israel since the beginning of the year.

Arab communities have seen a surge in violence in recent years amid a rise in organized crime and the proliferation of illegal weapons.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.