Egyptian racing champion Haitham Samir killed in land dispute

Dubai: In a case that has shocked Egypt’s motorsport community, the Ministry of Interior has revealed details of the fatal shooting of Haitham Samir, an international racing champion and organiser of autocross events, in Qalyubia Governorate, north of Cairo, on Monday evening, Al Khaleej Arabic daily reported.

Police said the Qalyubia Security Directorate received a report from a local hospital confirming Samir’s death from a gunshot wound. The owner of a car service company, Samir had been visiting a plot of land he owned in the jurisdiction of Qalyubia Police Station when an argument broke out with the son of the property’s private guard.

According to his business partner, who was with him at the time, the dispute stemmed from Samir’s decision to terminate the father’s employment. The quarrel escalated into a physical altercation, during which the suspect — a labourer living in the same area — allegedly fired a shotgun, striking Samir and causing fatal arterial damage.

Police apprehended the suspect at the scene and seized the weapon. Samir’s body was transferred to the Qalyub morgue, where prosecutors ordered a forensic examination to confirm the cause of death.

Dozens of friends and family members gathered at the morgue on Tuesday, expressing shock and grief at the sudden loss of a figure widely regarded as an icon of autocross racing in Egypt. Samir was known for organising major motorsport events, including the 'Red Bull Car Park Drift,' and for earning titles such as 'Drift Champion' in regional and international competitions.

Investigators are continuing to question witnesses, collect evidence, and review surveillance footage from the area. The killing has reignited debate over violent disputes and underscored the Ministry of Interior’s pledge to promote legal, non-violent conflict resolution to protect lives and property.