Two Lod Residents Indicted for Shooting Stolen Gun Near Rishon Lezion Mall
The Central District Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment on Sunday against Mustafa Al Soch, 24, and Ali Aldaadala, 23, both residents of Lod, accusing them of serious weapons offenses and obstruction of justice. The indictment, submitted to the Lod District Court, details an incident on the night of June 20 near the "Rishonim" mall in Rishon Lezion, where the two men were caught on security cameras playing with a stolen .22 caliber pistol before firing shots in a residential area.
According to the indictment, the suspects arrived with a third individual at a truck parking lot near the mall, where the third person worked as a security guard. Around 22:02, Mustafa drew the loaded pistol and began chasing Ali in what appeared to be a game. The situation escalated when Mustafa fired two shots into the air, both near residential buildings, event halls, and a busy road with passing vehicles. After the shooting, Ali hid the pistol and 100 matching bullets inside a fire extinguisher cabinet nearby, an act prosecutors say was a deliberate attempt to conceal evidence and obstruct the investigation.
The prosecution's case heavily relies on high-quality surveillance footage capturing the entire sequence, including the gunplay, the search for ejected cartridges, the second shot, and the concealment of the weapon. Police arrived about 20 minutes later, arrested the suspects, and recovered the pistol and ammunition exactly where the footage showed them being hidden. Ballistics tests confirmed the gun was capable of lethal force and that the recovered cartridge was fired from it.
During interrogation, both suspects initially denied possessing a weapon or hearing gunfire. Mustafa later denied being the person in the footage, despite clear images, and then exercised his right to remain silent. Ali remained silent throughout his second interrogation. Neither has a criminal record, but prosecutors argue their actions and silence indicate high danger, especially given the illegal possession and use of a stolen firearm in a populated area.
The indictment charges both with illegal weapons possession and obstruction of justice, with Mustafa additionally charged for firing in a residential area. The prosecution has requested their detention until the conclusion of legal proceedings.
Summary: Two Lod residents, Mustafa Al Soch and Ali Aldaadala, were indicted for playing with and firing a stolen .22 caliber pistol near the Rishonim mall in Rishon Lezion on June 20. They concealed the weapon afterward, but police arrested them shortly after and recovered the gun and ammunition. Both face weapons and obstruction charges, with prosecutors seeking to keep them detained during the trial.
