Political activist Mohannad Samir, who was shot by unknown assailants on Monday morning in Tahrir Square, died clinically in a Cairo hospital after suffering a massive stroke, a medical source at the hospital said.
Samir is still connected to a ventilator in the intensive care unit, the source from Ahmed Maher hospital said, stressing that the hospital will not take him off the breathing apparatus unless his heart stops once and for all. He said that his condition may remain the same for a few days or hours.
The source also noted that Samir’s condition is similar to the cases of both Gaber Salah, also known as "Jika," who was killed in November in clashes during the commemoration of the Mohamed Mahmoud events in November 2011, and of journalist Al-Husseini Abu Deif, who was killed in the 5 December clashes outside the Itihadeya presidential palace.
Samir was shot near the left ear, and the bullet reached the bottom of the brain, resulting in total paralysis of all body functions and all his organs except for the heart, according to the source.
Health ministry spokesperson Ahmed Omar told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Samir went into a coma after suffering a gunshot in the left side of the face. He was admitted to Ahmed Maher Hospital at seven am.
Initial investigations found that four unidentified gunmen shot Samir, a member of the April 6 Youth Movement, while he was in Tahrir Square early Monday morning.
According to this investigation, the shooters were in a red Jeep, and one of them fired a bullet from a birdshot gun at the victim from a short distance before speeding away.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
