French Police Officer Investigated for Voluntary Homicide in Shooting of 17-Year-Old

Prosecutors announced on Thursday that a French police officer, involved in the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old driver, will be investigated for voluntary homicide, following two days of fiery protests. Despite heightened security measures and calls for calm from the president, demonstrators set cars and public buildings ablaze in Paris suburbs, triggering unrest in various cities and towns across France.

The incident, captured on video, has deeply shocked the nation and reignited longstanding tensions between young people and the police in impoverished neighborhoods and disadvantaged areas throughout France.

In a separate case, another police officer was charged with “voluntary homicide” after fatally shooting a 19-year-old Guinean man during a traffic stop in western France. The investigation into that incident is still ongoing.

Violence erupted in Nanterre, the Paris suburb where the 17-year-old was killed, and the government dispatched 2,000 police officers to maintain order. However, clashes persisted after dark. Throughout the night, protesters and firefighters struggled to contain multiple blazes that damaged schools, police stations, town halls, and other public buildings in various cities, including Toulouse and Lille. Police arrested 150 individuals nationwide, with the majority of arrests taking place in the Paris region.

The scenes of violence witnessed in France’s suburban areas evoke memories of the 2005 riots triggered by the deaths of two teenagers who were electrocuted while hiding from the police in a power substation. Those riots exposed deep-seated anger and resentment in neglected, crime-ridden housing projects.

French President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency security meeting to address the ongoing violence, condemning the acts as “totally unjustifiable.” He emphasized the need for remembrance and respect, supporting Nahel’s mother’s call for a silent march in honor of her son.

The police officer involved in the shooting is currently in custody, suspected of manslaughter, and could face preliminary charges. Activists in France have renewed their calls to address what they perceive as systemic police abuse, particularly in impoverished neighborhoods like the one where Nahel lived. Government officials have denounced the killing and distanced themselves from the officer’s actions.

Videos circulating online depict two police officers leaning into the driver-side window of a yellow car before the vehicle speeds away, prompting one officer to fire into the window. The car later crashed into a nearby post, resulting in the driver’s death at the scene.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, addressing Parliament, acknowledged the distressing nature of the footage and stated that the intervention appeared to violate the rules of engagement followed by the police forces.

While France experiences fewer deadly firearm incidents compared to the United States, there have been cases of people dying or sustaining injuries at the hands of French police in recent years, leading to calls for greater accountability. The country has also witnessed protests against racial profiling and other injustices following the killing of George Floyd in the United States.

The family’s lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, expressed the desire for the police officer to be prosecuted for murder instead of manslaughter.

French soccer star Kylian Mbappe, who grew up in a Paris suburb, expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating, “I hurt for my France.”

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• French police officer investigated for shooting 17-year-old driver
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• History of unrest in French suburban areas
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• President Macron addresses the shooting and protests
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• Comparing police incidents in France and the United States