A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death late Saturday night on Herzl Street in central Ashkelon, in what police are calling a criminal dispute turned deadly.
Magen David Adom received the call at 11:28 p.m. reporting victims of a violent incident on Herzl Street. Paramedics and EMTs arriving at the scene found two young men suffering from stab wounds.
The 17-year-old was unconscious and in critical condition with penetrating injuries to his body. A second victim, also a young man, was lightly wounded. Both were rushed to Barzilai Medical Center in the city.
Despite efforts by trauma teams at the hospital, doctors were forced to pronounce the teenager dead shortly after his arrival.
Reuven Noach, an MDA emergency medical technician who was among the first responders, described the scene: "When we arrived at the location, they led us to the boy who was suffering from penetrating injuries to his body. We provided medical treatment including stopping the bleeding and evacuated him in an MDA ambulance to the hospital when his condition was critical and unstable and he was unconscious."
Large police forces were dispatched to the scene upon receiving the report. Officers sealed off the area, began collecting forensic evidence, and launched extensive searches throughout the city and surrounding areas to locate the suspects, who fled the scene.
Police said the hospital confirmed the teenager's death, and that an initial investigation indicates the motive for the attack was likely a criminal dispute between criminal elements. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
