Lebanese outraged at murder of 24-year-old Roy Hammouche

24-year-old engineering student Roy Hamoush was shot dead on the Dora highway north of Beirut, Tuesday night.  

According to The Daily Star, the student had just celebrated his birthday and was on his way back home with a friend, Johnny Nasser, when a traffic dispute ensued between them and three armed men driving a BMW with tinted windows. 

"The argument escalated into a car chase ending in Karantina, where the men cut off Hamoush’s car, and exited their vehicle," pointing their guns at the two young men.  

Nasser managed to flee the scene and call the police, but Hamoush was horrifically shot dead, at point blank range. 

Shortly after, the internal security forces (ISF) arrived at the scene and found Hamoush lying in a pool of blood. The student was quickly rushed to St. Georges Hospital in Ashrafieh where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

After the incident, security forces released a statement late on Wednesday announcing the arrest of A. Hasan who is a prime suspect in the murder. 

"The ISF found a handgun and two hand grenades in Hasan's possession at the time of his arrest," The Daily Star reported. 

 Further investigations in the case are currently underway. 

As soon as news of the horrific murder began circulating online, thousands took to social media expressing their outrage and sharing condolences with the student's family. 

"Roy Hamoush... you weren't even allowed to celebrate your college graduation, son." 

"What are we going to answer our children when they ask us why Roy was murdered?" 

"The catastrophe is, in Lebanon our lives aren't of value, they're equal to people tweeting about them for 3 days and then they're forgotten and all goes back to normal." 

"If the murderer of George El Reef has still not gotten a sentence even though his crime was documented on video, what should we expect?" 

"May God give your parents and family peace during this difficult time."  

"My heart breaks as I tell you, no matter where you are may God bless your soul and give your family patience and peace."  

"You've been wronged because you belong to a country filled with outlaws. May God have mercy on your soul, you're an angel."  

"I ask God to give your family strength and peace. They were excited to celebrate your graduation. This is such an unimaginable tragedy, may your soul rest in peace." 

"More important than the election law is a strict law banning the possession of unlicensed arms. We can no longer accept to just share condolences everytime someone dies in such a senseless manner."