Khaberni - Shatila refugee camp in the southern suburbs of Beirut witnessed a tragic incident two days ago, which resulted in the death of the young man Elio Abu Hanna, aged 25, after his car was subjected to heavy gunfire.
While the medical report confirmed that Elio was hit by a bullet that penetrated his body from the right side to the left, bullet marks were found on the rear and roof of the car, indicating heavy and direct gunfire towards the vehicle.
"My son was killed by heavy gunfire"
His father, Walid Abu Hanna, told Alarabiya.net/Alhadath.net, "My son was killed by heavy gunfire."
He added: "It is unacceptable for any party to bear arms outside state authority. The state is the only entity authorized to maintain security and enforce the law."
Furthermore, the victim's father mentioned that the most logical explanation is that his son lost his way to Shatila camp while returning from a meal in the Badaro area, when a GPS error diverted his route from his home in the Naqqash area towards Tayouneh area, causing him to accidentally enter a street within the camp's vicinity."
He also explained that "Elio was in contact with his friend just minutes before the incident, and told him that he had finished his meal and would head home, before mistakenly veering off the road into the camp".
His father denies any drug involvement
While Elio's father denied all rumors about drugs or prohibited substances inside the car, affirming that medical examinations completely excluded any narcotics or alcoholic substances from his son's body, and that the car was almost empty except for his personal belongings.
Regarding the medical examination image, the father clarified that the report is attached to the security forces' record of the incident, and cannot be obtained before the end of the investigations.
Hanna said: "My son was religious, a regular churchgoer, graduated from a reputable school, holding a master's degree in chemistry, and was planning to apply for a PhD. He never drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes in his life." He considered that all the drug allegations were attempts to justify the crime or cover it up, pointing out that if there were any evidence against him, they would not have allowed him to take the car so quickly.
"My son's blood is not a detail"
Ending his remarks, the young man's father said "We only want justice... My son's blood is not a detail." He emphasized that "the state is called upon to regain its prestige and curb illegal arms, to prevent similar tragedies with other children."
He added: "My son was not guilty, did not carry a weapon, and all he did was return from Badaro after having dinner to his home, but he lost his way and unintentionally entered a dangerous area."
Eyewitnesses clarified that the shooting occurred in two stages; in the first stage, bullets were fired at the car, and Elio tried to escape, in the second stage, additional bullets were fired from another location inside the camp, resulting in his fatal injury.
One of the witnesses told Alarabiya.net/Alhadath.net, "The car stopped inside Farhat neighborhood, and the young man was sitting motionless inside." He said, "We could not open the car easily due to an obstacle between the window and the wall, forcing us to break the back glass to reach him and save him before the arrival of the civil defense"
Furthermore, a security source revealed that the security barrier included about nine elements supervised by a direct official named Fadi Halimi, adding that the car left the camp for a short distance before being shot at.
The source also confirmed that the bullets hit the car from the right side, including the back door, quarter panel, and rear roof, indicating that the shooter was standing beside the car at the time of firing, not facing it. He clarified that preliminary investigations showed no weapons or drugs inside the car.
