Residents and bystanders who witnessed Sunday morning’s deadly shooting attack in the Sharon region described scenes of panic and chaos after a terrorist opened fire in broad daylight, killing one person and wounding five others across multiple locations.

One local resident, whose home is near the scene of the attack, said he immediately recognized the sound of gunfire.

“I recently moved to the Sal’it area, and my house is very close to where the attack occurred. I heard shots and realized right away that it was automatic weapon fire,” he said.

According to the resident, the shooting was followed by a massive emergency response.

“There was a tremendous commotion. I looked out my window and saw ambulances everywhere and a lot of chaos. Later I learned that there were casualties in Kochav Yair as well and that another incident was unfolding there. Since then, security forces have been operating throughout the area.”

The resident said the attack confirmed fears that many locals have harbored for years.

“When I heard the gunfire, I felt immediately that this was something highly unusual. On one hand, it was always something we worried about, but it took many years before it actually happened. The security fence around these communities does not always provide a full sense of safety. I regularly travel through the avocado groves nearby and see many Palestinian workers in the area every day. I do not believe the situation is being handled properly.”

Other eyewitnesses described just how close they came to the gunfire.

“I got out of my car and started walking toward Aroma when suddenly I heard shots,” one witness recalled. “At first, we had no idea what was happening. Looking back, I was only about ten meters from the first bullet that struck the man at McDonald’s.”

The witness said he watched another victim collapse moments later.

“I saw a man at the gas station holding his shoulder and then falling to the ground. Unfortunately, the terrorist was in a vehicle, and nobody was able to stop him at that point. I’m left with feelings of fear and anxiety. It’s absolutely terrifying. It was sheer luck that I wasn’t hit by that bullet.”

As previously reported, the attacker, Omar Yassin, who was known to police and had a criminal history, carried out a deadly shooting spree that left one person dead and five others seriously wounded. The attack unfolded across four separate locations in the Sharon region, including Kochav Yair, Tzur Yitzchak, Sal’it, and Route 5533 near Tzur Natan.

{Matzav.com}