Survivors of the Mersin massacre speak out: 'He asked if there was honey, then pulled the trigger'

Six people lost their lives and 8 others were wounded in armed attacks that began in the Tarsus district of Mersin and continued at various locations. Metin Öztürk (37), identified as the perpetrator of the attacks, committed suicide when cornered by security forces.

The suspect went to a butcher shop and restaurant in Kadelli Neighborhood, Tarsus district, where he had worked about a year ago, and opened fire with a handgun. Employees Ahmet Ercan and business owner Sabri Pan lost their lives in the attack.

The suspect, who fled the scene in a white car with license plate 01 B 9171, shot and killed Gökay Selfioğlu, a truck driver from Niğde, at a gas station in Yeniköy Neighborhood. He then shot his ex-wife, Arzu Özden, with a handgun in Darıpınarı Neighborhood of Çamlıyayla district. The suspect, who forced Abdullah Koca off the road with his motorcycle in Yeniköy Neighborhood, also killed Yusuf Oktay, a shepherd in Karakütük Neighborhood.

During the attacks, 8 people along the route were also wounded. The wounded were taken to surrounding hospitals, primarily Tarsus State Hospital, for treatment.

As a result of operations conducted by gendarmerie teams and unmanned aerial vehicles, the suspect was located in the Çokak area of Karakütük Neighborhood. The suspect, cornered by security forces, committed suicide. His body was sent to the Mersin Forensic Medicine Institute morgue for autopsy procedures.

TREATMENT OF 7 WOUNDED CONTINUES

While one of the wounded receiving treatment in the hospital has been discharged, it was learned that the treatment of 7 others is ongoing. It was stated that 4 of the wounded are being treated in wards at Tarsus State Hospital. The other 3 wounded are reported to be under treatment at Toros State Hospital, Mersin City Hospital, and a private hospital.

It was learned that Mersin Governor Atilla Toros also visited the wounded and that the wounded are out of critical condition.

"HE ASKED ABOUT HONEY FIRST, THEN PULLED THE TRIGGER"

One of the wounded, 47-year-old İsmail Yüksek, described the moment of the attack. Yüksek said, "I had bees in my garden in Yeni Köy Neighborhood, and I was tending to them. The man (the killer) came up and asked in a cold-blooded manner, 'Is there any honey?' I said, 'Honey isn't ready this time of year,' and he pulled the trigger. When I looked at the man a second time, he had aimed his weapon again, so I immediately lay down on the ground. He fired again, then got into his car and drove off."

Stating that the first bullet hit his abdominal cavity, Yüksek said he was also shot in the hip, but he did not realize when the second bullet hit him.

News Source: İHA