Israeli police: American kills chef at hotel - Video

Skooter reporting 10/06/12

Update: As reported earlier, at a Red Sea hotel in Israel, an American man shot and killed one person. The motive of the shooting was unclear. Latest reports said he lost his job and shot dead a chef at the resort on Friday, then was killed in a shootout with Israeli commandos, police said.

The suspect was identified as William Hershkovitz, 23, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and his family in the U.S., have been informed, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. But until now the motive for the shooting in the resort city of Eilat, the investigation is still under way, police said.

The head of the Oranim work and study program said it happened days following Hershkovits lost his job at the Leonardo Club Hotel.

On Friday, the suspect went inside the hotel, grabbed a gun from a hotel security guard and quickly started firing several shots, killing the chef identified as Abed Armando, 33, Rosenfeld said.

Combined forces of police and Army anti-terror units were called in and surrounded the building and told guests to remain in their rooms. The gunman shot at special forces as they entered in close-quarter combat formation in the hotel, prompting them to return fire and kill the attacker, Rosenfeld said.

Meanwhile, family members mourned the death of chef Armando, 33 in an Arab village in northern Israel.

Hershkovitz arrived in Israel about couple months ago to join in the Oranim program, which combines Hebrew study, travel and work at the hotel with a university course on hotel management.

Hershkovits was said to have received several complaints by the hotel stuff.

Watch video: American man shoots, kills 1 at Israel …

AP