Paris: Protests After Police Kill Teen at Traffic Stop

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Facts

  • Violent riots broke out Tuesday night in the suburbs of Paris after police shot and killed a 17-year-old named Naël M after he failed to stop when police asked. The Nanterre police say they shot because Naël was driving his car towards them, though this has been disputed.1
  • The teenager was driving a rental car when police tried to pull him over; however, despite police attempts, including one officer pointing his gun, Naël continued to drive off, prompting an officer to fire at point-blank range. Emergency services tried to resuscitate him, but it was too late.2
  • Despite claims that he was driving toward the officers, videos posted to social media appear to show the two policemen standing at the side of the stopped vehicle, with one pointing his gun. The victim’s lawyers say they will file an additional claim against the officers for alleged false testimony.3
  • In response to the shooting, protesters set fire to dozens of vehicles and buildings, including a town hall 25 miles away in Mantes-la-Jolie. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned the violence as 31 were arrested in the riots that injured 25 policemen and burned 40 cars.4
  • The officer who shot Naël is in custody and will face another 24 hours of questioning by prosecutors. As national police investigate the killing, an additional 2K officers were deployed Wednesday.5
  • Tuesday’s shooting comes as traffic stop fatalities are reportedly on the rise in France, with a record 13 people shot by police in such circumstances last year.6

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Independent, 3France 24, 4ABC News, 5CNN, and 6Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Left narrative, as provided by Guardian. The unforgivable killing of an unarmed teenager shows the state of the police in France. Police killings are inexcusable, but it's even more problematic that the majority of people killed at traffic stops are people of color. People are taking to the streets because they see the injustice going on around them and cannot stand idly by any longer. French police must be reformed, and the officer who killed Naël must be charged.
  • Right narrative, as provided by Boulevard Voltaire. While any death at the hands of police is very troubling, it's also important to address the factors as to why more people are being shot at traffic stops. The fact is that France is seeing an exponential rise in refusals to comply with police and, subsequently, an increase in the risk of harm to law enforcement. The establishment has a narrative to maintain, but we must examine every aspect of a problem in order to fix it.