A 58-year-old businessman from the Carmel region was shot dead overnight Friday in a wooded area near Daliyat al-Carmel, as police launched an investigation into what they believe is a criminally motivated killing.
Magen David Adom received a report at 12:21 a.m. of a man wounded in an open area. Paramedics who arrived at the remote forested site near the Carmel Scenic Route found the victim lying beside a vehicle with severe penetrating injuries and no signs of life, and were forced to pronounce him dead at the scene.
The victim was later identified as Majed Sheikh (al-Sheikh), a resident of Usfiya, a married father known locally as a well-off businessman. According to Israeli reports, there had been previous attempts on his life in recent years under unclear circumstances, including an incident in the Galilee from which he survived.
Investigators are examining the possibility that the victim was lured to the isolated location before being killed. Police said all lines of inquiry remain open, though early indications point to a criminal motive.
Investigation handed over to the Carmel regional serious crime unit
“We found the man unconscious, without a pulse or breathing, suffering from significant penetrating injuries,” MDA paramedic Ram Aryeh Zeitoun said. “After medical assessments, we had no choice but to declare him dead at the scene.”
Police units from the Nesher station arrived shortly after the incident, setting up roadblocks and conducting searches for suspects while forensic teams began collecting evidence. Coastal District Commander Maj.-Gen. Yehiel Bohdana also visited the scene and held a situational assessment with officers.
The investigation has been handed over to the Carmel regional serious crime unit. As of Friday morning, no arrests had been reported, and the inquiry remains ongoing.