Protests and unrest have erupted in Paris following the shooting death of a 17-year-old by police. The incident occurred after the teenager failed to stop when ordered to by traffic police. Video footage shared on social media shows a police officer pointing a gun at the driver of a car, followed by a gunshot and the car crashing to a stop. The teenager, identified as Naël M, died from bullet wounds in the chest despite receiving help from emergency services. The officer responsible for the shooting has been detained on homicide charges.
Initially, police claimed that the teen had driven his car towards them with the intention of causing harm. However, verified footage posted online tells a different story. It shows two officers attempting to stop the vehicle, with one officer pointing his weapon at the driver through the window and firing at point-blank range as the driver tries to flee. The video also captures a person saying, “you’re going to be shot in the head,” although it is unclear who made the statement.
Two other individuals were in the car at the time of the shooting. One fled the scene, while the other, also a minor, was arrested and held by the police. The incident sparked protests in Nanterre, the area west of Paris where the shooting occurred. Cars and rubbish bins were set on fire, bus shelters were destroyed, and fireworks were set off near the police station. Riot police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, some of whom erected barricades throughout the night. Twenty people were arrested in connection with the unrest.
Similar incidents of unrest were reported in several other towns, including Asnières, Colombes, Suresnes, Aubervilliers, Clichy-sous-Bois, and Mantes-la-Jolie. Authorities have launched two separate investigations into the teenager’s death, one focusing on a possible killing by a public official and the other on the driver’s failure to stop the vehicle and alleged attempt to harm a police officer.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez acknowledged that the officer’s actions raised questions but suggested that the officer may have felt threatened. The family’s lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, argued that the video clearly showed a policeman killing a young man in cold blood and filed a complaint against the police for initially claiming that the car had tried to run down the officers. Another lawyer representing the victim’s family, Jennifer Cambla, described the death as an “execution” and stated that nothing could justify what had happened.
France’s Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, described the video shared on social media as “extremely shocking” and called on people to respect the family’s grief and the presumption of innocence of the police. Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon expressed his condolences to the family and criticized the actions of the police, stating that no officer has the right to kill unless in self-defense. He called for a complete overhaul of the police force, which he believes discredits the authority of the state.
This incident comes just two weeks after a 19-year-old driver was shot dead by police in the town of Angoulême, following an alleged altercation during a traffic stop. According to Reuters news agency, last year saw a record 13 people die from police shootings in France during traffic stops. The death of Naël M marks the second such incident this year.
How did the police response, including the apprehension of the responsible officer and use of tear gas, impact the ongoing protests in Nanterre
Paris has witnessed a wave of protests and unrest following the tragic shooting death of a 17-year-old by police. The incident transpired after the teenager failed to comply with orders from traffic police to stop. A video circulating on social media exhibits a police officer aiming a gun at the driver of a car, followed by a gunshot and the vehicle crashing to a halt. Despite prompt assistance from emergency services, the teenager, identified as Naël M, succumbed to chest injuries sustained from the gunshot. The officer responsible for the shooting has been apprehended on charges of homicide.
Initially, the police alleged that the teenager deliberately drove his car towards them with malicious intent. However, verified footage shared online presents a distinct narrative. It portrays two officers attempting to halt the vehicle, one officer pointing his firearm at the driver through the window, and discharging it at close range as the driver attempts to escape. The video also captures an individual warning, “you’re going to be shot in the head,” although it remains unclear who made the statement.
Two additional individuals were present in the car during the incident. One fled the scene, while the other, also a minor, was apprehended and detained by the police. The shooting ignited protests in Nanterre, the region located west of Paris where the tragedy occurred. Demonstrators set cars and rubbish bins on fire, vandalized bus shelters, and set off fireworks near the police station. Riot police deployed tear gas to disperse the protesters, some of whom constructed barricades during the night.
It’s disheartening to see the unrest in Paris following yet another incident of police shooting, this time involving a 17-year-old driver. These recurrent clashes highlight the urgent need for systemic changes and greater accountability in law enforcement to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.