Hallaq was heading to a school for students with special needs, and passed through the Lions' Gate checkpoint, where Israeli police officers attempted to stop him and shot at least seven times in his direction. Hallaq fled from the area and hid in a garbage shed nearby, where he was then shot dead by an Israeli officer. The officer later claimed that he thought Hallaq was attempting to murder a screaming woman. The woman in question was his school councilor. On 6 July 2023, an Israeli court acquitted the officer of charges of "reckless homicide" based on his argument that he fired in self-defense and believed Hallaq was attempting an attack.