Jerusalem, 30 July, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Two Israeli teens were indicted on Tuesday for the accidental shooting death of 14-year-old Uri Portal in Rishon LeZion.
The indictment filed by the Central District Attorney’s Office accused the pair — aged 14 and 17 — of jointly causing Portal’s death, along with illegal possession and discharge of a firearm.
According to the indictment, the 17-year-old stole the keys to his parents’ gun safe on June 7 and removed a handgun and a loaded magazine belonging to his father. Without their knowledge, he brought the weapon to school the next day and showed it to friends, including Portal and the 14-year-old co-defendant. The younger teen even pocketed one of the bullets.
After school, the group walked to sand dunes near the city’s cinema complex to test the gun. The older boy demonstrated how to handle the gun before handing it to his friend. The 14-year-old fired one shot at a target. Moments later, when Portal asked for the weapon, the younger boy turned toward him and accidentally pulled the trigger. The bullet struck Portal in the chest from close range.
The two teens immediately tried to administer CPR as the older boy called emergency services. Two other friends who were present fled the scene. Paramedics arrived within minutes and evacuated Portal to Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.
He died two days later from his wounds.
Uri’s mother, Maayan, who was in mid-flight to China at the time of the incident, was initially told her son had been in a serious bicycle accident. Only after landing in Israel was she informed of his death.
“My son paid with his life at the age of only 14 and a half,” she said. “We as a family are paying the heaviest price imaginable.” In a heartbreaking Instagram tribute, she wrote: “My Oriki, my heart and soul, my heart is shattered… How can a mother mourn her child, her baby? I scream to God—why, why, why did you take my air?”
Alongside the charges, prosecutors have requested that both defendants remain under full house arrest and be barred from leaving the country. Because they are minors, their identities cannot be published.
No charges were filed against the other boys who fled, as there was no evidence they had handled or fired the gun.
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