French prosecutors launched an investigation into the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old man by police during an attempted control of a speeding vehicle. The incident occurred late Sunday near Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in western France, according to state prosecutor Pierre-Yves Marot.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, which was carrying three occupants, for speeding. However, the driver refused to comply and attempted to flee. After a pursuit, the vehicle was eventually stopped by a second police car.
As the occupants attempted to escape, one managed to evade capture, while another was detained and charged with suspicion of robbery due to the vehicle being reported as stolen.
The fatal confrontation ensued when the third occupant, a 19-year-old from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, attempted to flee and collided with one of the officers. In response, one officer deployed a stun gun, while another drew her service weapon, fatally shooting the teenager in the chest.
The officer who discharged the fatal shot is currently under questioning by the police’s IGPN internal affairs department. This incident follows a series of protests in recent years against alleged police violence, particularly targeting minorities, sparking renewed scrutiny of law enforcement practices in France.
Last year, France experienced violent riots following the killing of a teenager by a po liceman during a traffic check outside Paris, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding police conduct.
