David Stern, a Krav Maga self-defense instructor and trainer for first-responder security teams, was shot in the head Sunday afternoon when an Arab terrorist approached his car and opened fire at point-blank range with a Carlo-style submachine gun.
The victims, both dual American-Israeli citizens, are 44-year-old David Stern and his wife, 37-year-old Rachel Stern, residents of the Givat Ronen neighborhood in the town of Itamar, north of Huwara, the site of the attack.
Stern, a former U.S. Marine, returned fire at his attacker and managed to hit him. Doctors at the hospital described Stren surviving a “miracle” as he sustained impact to the head.
About 20 bullets were fired at the vehicle by the attacker and from it by Stern who returned fire. Footage from the scene shows the windshield of the vehicle spattered with bullet holes.
Stern’s friend said that he was a “skilled and cool-headed fighter”, a former Marine who they consider a “legend.”
They said: “He is a firearms instructor, and trained people exactly for these moments.”
“I’ve known the injured man for man years. He’s a dear friend, a professional fighter and level-headed,” Religious Zionist Party MK Tzvi Sukkot said in a statement.
“After a direct attack, he managed to return fire, hit the terrorist and take care of himself. A miracle has happened here!”
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan stated, “This resident is a true Jewish hero, the glory of the settlement in Samaria, who protected his wife with his own body; a martial arts man, a security man and an educator. While the armed terrorist was shooting at him on the main road and he was wounded in the head by the gunshot, he pulled out his weapon and fired back. With his resourcefulness, he saved his life and that of his wife – a hero of Israel, a hero of Samaria.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was praying for the “wounded hero” who succeeded in shooting the terrorist attacker, adding: “Whoever tries to harm Israeli citizens — will bear the responsibility.”