Yesterday morning in the Paris outskirts (Nanterre) a young driver was shot dead by police who was believed to be disobeying the order to stop and then proceeded to flee, reported local news outlets.
Despite the application of emergency medical services (Samu), the victim passed away shortly thereafter.
One of the two passengers in the car fled, while the other was taken into custody. Police sources said that the initial findings of the investigation indicated that the rented car had committed several traffic violations.
The family of the 17 year-old boy, the murdered driver, will file two complaints. The police claimed that the victim tried to run over police with his vehicle, according to family lawyer Me Bouzrou. Therefore, one lawsuit will allege willful homicide, while the other will entail forgery of a public report.
The police officer who fatally shot the young boy was placed in police custody for intentional homicide charges, announced the prosecution.
Investigations were opened by the Nanterre public prosecutor’s office concerning charges against the deceased driver; first, for refusal to comply with an officer of the law; and second, for attempted homicide of a person holding public authority, which the victim’s family disputes and intends to countersue for the forgery of reporting details.
From the other side of the spectrum, the General Inspectorate of National Police (IGPN) was entrusted to prosecute the officer on the charge of intentional homicide by a person holding public authority.
Tensions soared later on Tuesday between police and demonstrators who set fire, destroyed cars and bus stops, and threw firecrackers towards police, who subsequently responded with tear gas and dispersion grenades, according to videos broadcast on local media.
Twenty-four people were arrested, while an equal number of police officers were injured. In addition, 42 cars were burned, said news outlet Le Figaro on Wednesday. One person also suffered an eye injury in a scuffle. She claimed to have been the victim of a defense ball launcher (LBD).
French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that nothing justifies the death of a young person, adding that the act was “unexplainable and inexcusable.”
France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said that the images posted on social media were “extremely shocking.” He called for light to be shed on the facts.
“No policeman has the right to kill except in self-defense. If it was a refusal to comply by polluters or tax emigrants, we would not ask the question. We have multiplied the alerts. This uncontrolled police force discredits the authority of the state. It needs to be completely overhauled. Heartfelt condolences to the family,” tweeted Jean-Luc Mélenchon, former member of the National Assembly.
This is the second such deadly shooting in 2023, following a record 13 deaths from police killings in France during traffic stops last year. In 2021 and 2020, three people were shot and murdered by police when they disobeyed a traffic stop, as, disturbingly, the majority of these victims continue to be Black or Muslim.