Police and prosecutors say they have clear evidence that the father of 9-year-old Lila Jahjah will be indicted for murdering her in the Arab town of Ara. The case was reported publicly for the first time on Wednesday evening, June 26, 2024, and investigators say the father’s gunfire, not a stray bullet, killed the child.
According to the article, the suspect fired at least 20 rounds during a confrontation with his two sons while the family was gathered for Eid al-Adha. One of those bullets struck Lila fatally. The father denies the allegations and claims his daughter was killed by random gunfire.
Witnesses told N12 that the girl had been playing in the yard when her father fired indiscriminately in all directions, and that a bullet entered her neck. The police said the suspect also attacked the deputy regional commander when officers arrived at the scene.
Investigators further said he prevented police from taking a water hose from a relative who was cleaning the murder scene. A formal murder indictment is expected soon.
