Truck driver suspected of killing would-be thief

An Israeli man was shot dead early Sunday morning, and police suspect a truck driver shot him when he attempted to steal his vehicle.

The driver, who lives in the Beit Elazari agricultural community in central Israel near the city of Rehovot, called police to report that several men were trying to take his truck.

When he confronted them, they threatened him with a club so he drew a pistol and fired a warning shot in the air to scare them off, he said.

After the driver reported the attempted theft, in a field alongside Route 40, the police arrived and noticed a pool of blood at the scene. They then found the body.

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Maged David Adom paramedics were called in, but declared the man dead at the scene.

The truck driver was detained and is being questioned by police.

He maintains that the bullet he fired did not hit any of the men.