25.04.2026 23:04
After being warned for speeding in Istanbul Esenler, a 17-year-old boy argued with bystanders and shortly returned to the scene with a gun, firing repeatedly at a group gathered for a soldier send-off party. A bullet struck another 17-year-old, leaving him seriously injured, while police launched an operation to capture the suspect.
In the Esenler district of Istanbul, a 17-year-old suspect opened fire with a gun at a group gathered for a soldier send-off party, leaving one child seriously injured.
HE ASKED EVERYONE HE SAW ON THE STREET
The incident occurred on April 19 on Tuna Street in Tuna Neighborhood. According to allegations, Derviş G. began asking everyone on the street if they had seen the person with whom he had a feud. Derviş G. was then warned by bystanders because he arrived at the scene quickly by vehicle. Shortly after, an argument broke out between Derviş G. and those who warned him. Following the argument, Derviş G. left the scene in his vehicle.
HE OPENED FIRE TOWARD THE CROWD
Soon after, Derviş G. returned to the scene with a gun. When he started insulting those he had argued with, a brief scuffle occurred. After the scuffle, Derviş G. opened fire with a gun toward the crowd gathered on the street for the soldier send-off party. The bullets hit Yusuf Arda Özer, who was there for the soldier send-off party. The suspect, Derviş G., fled the scene with three people who came with him. After initial intervention by health teams who arrived at the scene upon notification, Özer was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Severely injured, Yusuf Arda Özer has been receiving treatment in intensive care for 6 days. Efforts have been initiated to capture Derviş G., who is known to have a criminal record for many offenses.
“HE WOULD HAVE SHOT MY OTHER CHILDREN TOO”
Mother Esma Özer said, "Until two days before this incident, my son slept at his workplace just to attend this party. He said, 'Mom, I won't leave Kadir alone, I must attend the party.' He didn't even come home; he worked for two days, I called my son and said 'come, dinner is ready.' Shortly after, gunshots were heard. I went outside and saw my child lying on the ground. He hasn't been caught yet. No shame, no remorse; that person who did this would have shot my other children too. I am at the hospital, let him come and shoot me instead. His condition is critical, the risk continues, internal bleeding continues."
“HE FIRED 7-8 SHOTS”
Özer's friend Muhammed Abdo said, "There are two friends, and they have a feud between themselves. We were about to have a soldier send-off party at that time, and he kept passing by our area. He was asking about the kid he had a feud with, and while he was asking us, our friend reacted sharply to him, saying 'enough, he doesn't come here, go away, we have our party, don't ruin it.' He then started swearing. After that, they began swearing at each other and got into a head-to-head confrontation. This kid got into his car and said 'I'll be right back.' He drove away and returned on foot. Our friend went up to him to resolve the situation, to prevent a fight. My friend held him and said 'what happened? Let's go to the back street and talk there, we have our party, don't disrupt it.' Then he reached for his gun, our friend hit him, and then he started firing toward us with the gun. The bullet hit our friend; there were many kids there, he fired 7-8 shots."