7-Year-Old Hillel Mordechai Dadon Z”L Murdered By Neighbor During Family Birthday Party; 4-Year-Old Cousin Wounded

 

 A horrifying stabbing attack in Beit Shemesh on Monday afternoon left 7-year-old Hillel Mordechai Dadon z”l dead and his 4-year-old cousin wounded, with police arresting a 25-year-old neighbor suspected of carrying out the attack.

The attack occurred at a home on Emek HaZeitim Street during a family birthday celebration. According to the initial investigation, the children were outside near an inflatable pool when the suspect, a neighbor of the family, entered the property and allegedly stabbed them.

A 15-year-old relative who had been watching the children was reportedly present and witnessed the attack. The father of one of the children later arrived and found the two boys wounded near the pool. The mother had reportedly gone out to purchase items for the birthday celebration.

Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah personnel rushed to the scene and treated both victims before transporting them to Hadassah Ein Kerem.

Hillel Mordechai was evacuated while undergoing resuscitation efforts and arrived at the hospital without signs of life. Doctors subsequently pronounced him dead.

His 4-year-old cousin arrived conscious and was taken into surgery. Hadassah said his condition was moderate.

Police apprehended the suspected attacker, a 25-year-old neighborhood resident, shortly after the stabbing. Investigators believe he fled after attacking the children.

Police are examining several possible motives, including whether a previous dispute existed between the suspect’s family and the victims’ family. Reports also indicated that the suspect has a history of mental health issues. His father was questioned at the scene as part of the investigation.

Jerusalem District Police Commander Avshalom Peled arrived at the scene and held a situation assessment with senior commanders. Forensic investigators collected evidence from the property, and the investigation has been assigned to the Jerusalem District Central Unit.

ZAKA identified the murdered child as Hillel Mordechai Dadon z”l and said its legal department was assisting the family with efforts to expedite his release for kevurah.

The murder came during an exceptionally tragic afternoon in Beit Shemesh. In an unrelated incident elsewhere in the city, Asher Anshel Fish z”l was killed after being struck by a vehicle in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled.

Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg said: “Beit Shemesh has experienced two difficult and painful incidents in the past hour, in each of which the life of a child was cut short. In the terrible incident on Emek HaZeitim Street, a child was killed, and in the traffic accident in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled, another child was killed.”

“These are extremely difficult moments for the entire city,” Greenberg added. “Our hearts are with the families who lost what was most precious to them, and we daven for the welfare and recovery of the injured.”