Halaq and his teacher were walking on 30 May 2020 to the Elwyn El Quds center which provides services for children and adults with disabilities when they approached the Lions' Gate checkpoint.[4] The checkpoint was part of the daily walk from Halaq's home in Jerusalem's Wadi al-Joz area in the Old City to the center which he had attended since 2014. When he reportedly stepped through the arches of the Gate, officers on duty became suspicious when he placed his hand into his pocket for his cell phone.[5] He had apparently not understood the shouted commands from the officers to halt, but fled on foot and hid in a garbage room.[6] His father told reporters that the teacher attempted to tell police that Halaq was disabled and to check his identity, but officers maintained a distance and opened fire.[5]