Four people were killed, and one was seriously wounded on Monday after a man opened fire at a a Bank Hapoalim branch in the southern Israeli town of Be'er Sheva, Ha'Aretz reported. The gunman identified as Itamar Alon committed suicide after holding a woman hostage during a shootout with police.
Initial investigations say Alon, who served as a Border Police officer in the 1990s, and later worked as a security guard, committed the attack after a dispute with the bank management. Initial reports said that Alon had gone into the bank early in the day to ask to withdraw money despite being in overdraft. After being rejected the transaction by management, Alon reportedly entered the Bank Hapoalim branch at 1 p.m. and opened fire.
Alon "was out for revenge after the bank did not agree to extend his credit line to cover his mortgage," the Jeruslaem Post reported. He was armed with a gun, and shot two bank employees. During the commotion, another two bystanders were shot, and then he took a hostage, Israeli news reports said.
After clashing with police, he ultimately shot and killed himself.
Alon reportedly worked as a security guard in several educational institutions in Be'er Sheva, and in 2001, was fired from his job and sued the city for unlawful dismissal, Ha'Aretz reported.
A legal official told Ha'Aretz that "he was a strange man. Several of his employers complained he had problems with authority. He was domineering with his coworkers and made many enemies, which is why he was fired."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed outrage: "What happened today in Be'er Sheva is a huge tragedy. It should not happen again and it will not happen again," he said.
Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino said that only one suspect committed the attack at the bank, as opposed to earlier reports of two 'robbers.'
