Police officer in Paris shooting case indicted for voluntary homicide

By Shweta Desai

PARIS (AA) - French prosecutors launched an investigation Wednesday against a police officer at the center of a shooting in Paris that left two men dead and formally charged him with intentional homicide and willful violence, according to local media reports.

The 23-year-old officer, who opened fire on a vehicle, killing two passengers for refusing to comply with orders, was placed under judicial custody Sunday following the incident at the Pont-Neuf bridge in central Paris.

He was indicted on two counts of “willful violence by a person holding public authority causing death without intention to kill” and “willful violence aggravated by a person holding public authority,” Le Figaro daily reported.

He is also prohibited from performing his duties as a police officer involving public contact, carrying a weapon, appearing in Paris, and contacting his police department for six months.

Other investigations in the case pertaining to the criminal angle and on the question of self-defense will continue alongside, according to the prosecutors, the report said. The deceased are suspected to have been involved in narcotics trading.

On Sunday, shortly after the announcement of the presidential election results, a police patrol of five officers flagged a gray Volkswagen Polo that was parked in the wrong direction with its headlights on. As they were approaching, the driver attempted to move the car in their direction, triggering the police officers to open fire. A dozen shots were fired, causing the death of the 25-year-old driver and a 31-year-old front-seat passenger. A 42-year-old backseat passenger was also injured during the shooting.