Conflict Incident Report

SIDON, Lebanon: Maroun Hanna Nohra, a 47-year-old man, was fatally shot earlier this week in the southern city of Sidon, a security source told The Daily Star Thursday. The victim, from the town of Ain al-Delb, was killed late Wednesday evening in the southern town of Majdalyoun. Nohra was driving on the main road of Majdalyoun, when he came to a stop in front of a silver Mercedes. A man got out of the Mercedes, approached Nohra and opened fire at him before fleeing the scene, sources told The Daily Star.

Police were able to identify the suspect as Walid Obeid, a Lebanese national residing in Majdalyoun but hailing from the Bekaa town of Barr Elias, police reported. Obeid reportedly killed Nohra after finding out about an extramarital relationship between his mother and the victim. Nohra died immediately, but was taken to the Labib Medical Center in Sidon. Upon his arrival, doctors found that he had been hit with four bullets: two in his chest, one in his face and one in his shoulder. Security forces arrived at the scene of the crime and opened an investigation.

Upon checking the victim’s phone, the security forces discovered that Nohra had received a call from Obeid before he was shot. On an order from south Lebanon Judge Rahif Ramadan, security forces raided Obeid’s home. The suspect was not found but both of his parents were taken into custody. During investigations, Obeid’s mother admitted that her son recently found out about the relationship between her and Nohra. Security forces said that the case had not been difficult to crack, given footage from surveillance cameras near the crime scene, a phone call between Nohra and the suspect earlier in the day and WhatsApp messages between the mother and Nohra. The latter was reportedly at Obeid’s house earlier in the day, where a heated dispute erupted before Nohra left.

Ain al-Delb’s mayor, Dany Jabbour, spoke of the recent crime, saying: “Today, we call on [President Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri], heads of political parties and religious leaders to allow for the implementation of the death penalty, because we are now living in a lawless situation.” The death of Nohra is the second such killing in as many weeks. Roy Hamoush, a young engineer in his early 20s, was pursued by assailants while on his way home from his birthday celebrations. He was shot and killed. Three suspects were apprehended and Hamoush’s family is now waiting for justice to be carried out. Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk last week called for the reinstatement of the death penalty. Others soon rallied behind this cause.