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| Anger Flares in France After Police Shoot and Kill Teenage Driver | Anger Flares in France After Police Shoot and Kill Teenage Driver |
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| The authorities in France have opened a criminal investigation after a 17-year-old driver was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop near Paris, an episode that touched off a night of violence and fueled a longstanding debate on the use of deadly force by the country’s security forces. | The authorities in France have opened a criminal investigation after a 17-year-old driver was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop near Paris, an episode that touched off a night of violence and fueled a longstanding debate on the use of deadly force by the country’s security forces. |
| Initial news reports, based on what were described as anonymous police sources, had suggested that the driver plowed into two officers with his car on Tuesday during the stop in Nanterre, west of the capital. But an unconfirmed video of the shooting that appeared later led to accusations that the police had acted too aggressively, and prosecutors in Nanterre have opened a manslaughter investigation. | Initial news reports, based on what were described as anonymous police sources, had suggested that the driver plowed into two officers with his car on Tuesday during the stop in Nanterre, west of the capital. But an unconfirmed video of the shooting that appeared later led to accusations that the police had acted too aggressively, and prosecutors in Nanterre have opened a manslaughter investigation. |
| The video, believed to have been filmed by a witness, spread quickly on social networks and was picked up by the French news media. It shows two helmeted police officers on the left side of a yellow car that is stopped on the street. The video was also obtained by The New York Times from a person who said she was close to the witness and who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of repercussions for sharing the footage. | The video, believed to have been filmed by a witness, spread quickly on social networks and was picked up by the French news media. It shows two helmeted police officers on the left side of a yellow car that is stopped on the street. The video was also obtained by The New York Times from a person who said she was close to the witness and who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of repercussions for sharing the footage. |
| The officers, both peering into the driver’s window, are heard shouting, although what they said to the victim, identified by the French authorities only as Nahel M., is unclear. One of the officers leans onto the windshield and points what appears to be a firearm at the driver, and as the car starts moving away, a loud bang is audible. | The officers, both peering into the driver’s window, are heard shouting, although what they said to the victim, identified by the French authorities only as Nahel M., is unclear. One of the officers leans onto the windshield and points what appears to be a firearm at the driver, and as the car starts moving away, a loud bang is audible. |
| That officer is in police custody, though he has not been charged. The family of the driver said that it was going to file a complaint accusing the police officer of murder. | That officer is in police custody, though he has not been charged. The family of the driver said that it was going to file a complaint accusing the police officer of murder. |
| Officers in France have faced accusations of brutality in the past, though the country’s authorities have been reluctant to use the term “police violence,” and police unions have rebuffed efforts to overhaul their tactics. | Officers in France have faced accusations of brutality in the past, though the country’s authorities have been reluctant to use the term “police violence,” and police unions have rebuffed efforts to overhaul their tactics. |
| But on Wednesday, French leaders spoke in unusually forceful terms about the nature of the teenager’s death and expressed rare criticism of the police, a sign of how seriously the authorities were treating the developments. | But on Wednesday, French leaders spoke in unusually forceful terms about the nature of the teenager’s death and expressed rare criticism of the police, a sign of how seriously the authorities were treating the developments. |
| Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne told the lower house of Parliament that “the entire nation has been affected by this tragedy” after lawmakers held a minute of silence. | Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne told the lower house of Parliament that “the entire nation has been affected by this tragedy” after lawmakers held a minute of silence. |
| “I know the commitment of our police officers and gendarmes who are in the field every day,” Ms. Borne said. But she said that video footage of the incident showed an operation “that clearly does not appear to comply with the rules of engagement of our police forces.” | “I know the commitment of our police officers and gendarmes who are in the field every day,” Ms. Borne said. But she said that video footage of the incident showed an operation “that clearly does not appear to comply with the rules of engagement of our police forces.” |
| Emmanuel Macron, the French president, expressed “the nation’s sympathy” for the teenager’s family. “Justice must be done,” Mr. Macron told reporters. “Nothing justifies the death of a young person,” he added, calling it “inexplicable” and “inexcusable.” | Emmanuel Macron, the French president, expressed “the nation’s sympathy” for the teenager’s family. “Justice must be done,” Mr. Macron told reporters. “Nothing justifies the death of a young person,” he added, calling it “inexplicable” and “inexcusable.” |
| Some political leaders linked the shooting to a 2017 law that allows police officers to shoot at a moving vehicle if they deem it dangerous to their lives or to those of others and said that it was now clear the legislation should be repealed or at least revised. The law was passed after several police unions lobbied intensely for those powers, arguing that they were needed to better protect officers. Critics had said that it was too vague and might lead to unnecessary deaths. | Some political leaders linked the shooting to a 2017 law that allows police officers to shoot at a moving vehicle if they deem it dangerous to their lives or to those of others and said that it was now clear the legislation should be repealed or at least revised. The law was passed after several police unions lobbied intensely for those powers, arguing that they were needed to better protect officers. Critics had said that it was too vague and might lead to unnecessary deaths. |
| “Why is it that, in our republic, a failure to comply can be punishable by a bullet in the chest or head?” Sabrina Sebaihi, a lawmaker representing the district where the teenager was killed, said in Parliament on Tuesday. | “Why is it that, in our republic, a failure to comply can be punishable by a bullet in the chest or head?” Sabrina Sebaihi, a lawmaker representing the district where the teenager was killed, said in Parliament on Tuesday. |
| While acknowledging that police shootings at moving vehicles have increased since the law passed, the French authorities say that the rise is mostly because more drivers are refusing to stop. | While acknowledging that police shootings at moving vehicles have increased since the law passed, the French authorities say that the rise is mostly because more drivers are refusing to stop. |
| The shooting on Tuesday inflamed long-simmering anger in suburbs where relations between the police and residents are often fraught with mistrust. In one of the most infamous incidents in the Paris suburbs, in 2005, two teenagers, Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré, were electrocuted after they hid in an electrical substation while running from the police, provoking weeks of violent protests around the country. | The shooting on Tuesday inflamed long-simmering anger in suburbs where relations between the police and residents are often fraught with mistrust. In one of the most infamous incidents in the Paris suburbs, in 2005, two teenagers, Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré, were electrocuted after they hid in an electrical substation while running from the police, provoking weeks of violent protests around the country. |
| The rage over Nahel M.’s death quickly spilled into unrest, especially in the Hauts-de-Seine area, which includes Nanterre. More than 30 people were arrested overnight, according to the French authorities, after protesters threw rocks and fireworks at riot police, who responded with tear gas. | The rage over Nahel M.’s death quickly spilled into unrest, especially in the Hauts-de-Seine area, which includes Nanterre. More than 30 people were arrested overnight, according to the French authorities, after protesters threw rocks and fireworks at riot police, who responded with tear gas. |
| Protesters also burned some 40 cars and set fire to construction shacks and some buildings. A City Hall annex in Mantes-la-Jolie, a town further west of Paris, was destroyed. | Protesters also burned some 40 cars and set fire to construction shacks and some buildings. A City Hall annex in Mantes-la-Jolie, a town further west of Paris, was destroyed. |
| Gérald Darmanin, the French interior minister, said that 2,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed across France on Wednesday evening to contain any violence. | Gérald Darmanin, the French interior minister, said that 2,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed across France on Wednesday evening to contain any violence. |
| Sofia Berkoukeche, 29, an occupational psychologist who has lived in Nanterre for nearly a decade, said on Wednesday that there was “a general frustration with police violence.” She called the shooting “the last straw.” | Sofia Berkoukeche, 29, an occupational psychologist who has lived in Nanterre for nearly a decade, said on Wednesday that there was “a general frustration with police violence.” She called the shooting “the last straw.” |
| “You can’t take such radical measures to impose order,” Ms. Berkoukeche said. “It makes the police less credible.” | “You can’t take such radical measures to impose order,” Ms. Berkoukeche said. “It makes the police less credible.” |
| Mr. Darmanin said that the police officer would be punished if warranted. “An act like the one that we saw, if the investigation confirms the videos that we have seen, is never justified,” he said. The two officers are experienced members of the traffic police in their late 30s and early 40s, and had no record of misconduct, Mr. Darmanin added. | Mr. Darmanin said that the police officer would be punished if warranted. “An act like the one that we saw, if the investigation confirms the videos that we have seen, is never justified,” he said. The two officers are experienced members of the traffic police in their late 30s and early 40s, and had no record of misconduct, Mr. Darmanin added. |
| The prosecutor’s office in Nanterre said in a statement that the shooting occurred on Tuesday morning near Place Nelson Mandela, a square in Nanterre not far from La Défense, a business district northwest of Paris. | The prosecutor’s office in Nanterre said in a statement that the shooting occurred on Tuesday morning near Place Nelson Mandela, a square in Nanterre not far from La Défense, a business district northwest of Paris. |
| Two people were in the vehicle, a Mercedes AMG, in addition to the driver, the prosecutor’s office said: One of them was released after questioning; the other was still being sought after fleeing the scene. | Two people were in the vehicle, a Mercedes AMG, in addition to the driver, the prosecutor’s office said: One of them was released after questioning; the other was still being sought after fleeing the scene. |
| Laurent Nuñez, the Paris police prefect, told the French TV channel CNews on Wednesday that the two officers had tried to stop the car because the driver had committed several traffic violations and had refused to stop a first time, before getting stuck in traffic. That is when the two police officers were able to approach the vehicle, he said. | Laurent Nuñez, the Paris police prefect, told the French TV channel CNews on Wednesday that the two officers had tried to stop the car because the driver had committed several traffic violations and had refused to stop a first time, before getting stuck in traffic. That is when the two police officers were able to approach the vehicle, he said. |
| Nahel M. died an hour after being shot, the prosecutor’s office said. Initial tests did not indicate that the police officer who fired the shot had been under the influence of any drug or alcohol, the prosecutor’s office added. | |
| Yassine Bouzrou, a lawyer for Nahel M.’s family, said that in addition to the complaint against the police officer who fired the shot, the family would also file a suit accusing the other officer of complicity and another legal action accusing the officers of lying about the incident in their initial statements. | Yassine Bouzrou, a lawyer for Nahel M.’s family, said that in addition to the complaint against the police officer who fired the shot, the family would also file a suit accusing the other officer of complicity and another legal action accusing the officers of lying about the incident in their initial statements. |
| Deadly firearm deaths are uncommon in France, and the shooting on Tuesday quickly captured the nation’s attention, including that of famous actors, artists and athletes. | Deadly firearm deaths are uncommon in France, and the shooting on Tuesday quickly captured the nation’s attention, including that of famous actors, artists and athletes. |
| The actor Omar Sy and the soccer player Kylian Mbappé both expressed support for Nahel M.’s family on social media. (Some authorities had earlier spelled the name as Naël.) | The actor Omar Sy and the soccer player Kylian Mbappé both expressed support for Nahel M.’s family on social media. (Some authorities had earlier spelled the name as Naël.) |
| “My France hurts,” Mr. Mbappé wrote on Twitter. | “My France hurts,” Mr. Mbappé wrote on Twitter. |
| Nanterre, with a population of nearly 100,000, is home to one of the Paris region’s largest universities. It is a more working-class area than neighboring cities in the Hauts-de-Seine, though not nearly as impoverished as some of the other suburbs that ring Paris. | Nanterre, with a population of nearly 100,000, is home to one of the Paris region’s largest universities. It is a more working-class area than neighboring cities in the Hauts-de-Seine, though not nearly as impoverished as some of the other suburbs that ring Paris. |
| Patrick Jarry, the mayor of Nanterre, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the city had experienced “one of the worst days of its history.” | Patrick Jarry, the mayor of Nanterre, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the city had experienced “one of the worst days of its history.” |
| “Let us stop this destructive spiral,” Mr. Jarry said. “We want justice for Nahel, we will obtain it through peaceful mobilization.” | “Let us stop this destructive spiral,” Mr. Jarry said. “We want justice for Nahel, we will obtain it through peaceful mobilization.” |
| The town was mostly calm on Wednesday, and residents were both shocked and unsurprised by the police shooting. | The town was mostly calm on Wednesday, and residents were both shocked and unsurprised by the police shooting. |
| Mathilde Emery, a 17-year-old high school student who was eating lunch on a park bench in Nanterre on Wednesday, said that she knew Nahel and described him as a funny and easygoing classmate who liked to joke around. | Mathilde Emery, a 17-year-old high school student who was eating lunch on a park bench in Nanterre on Wednesday, said that she knew Nahel and described him as a funny and easygoing classmate who liked to joke around. |
| “We already have a bad perception of the police,” Ms. Emery said. “It’s just disappointing.” | “We already have a bad perception of the police,” Ms. Emery said. “It’s just disappointing.” |
| Juliette Guéron-Gabrielle contributed reporting from Nanterre, France. | Juliette Guéron-Gabrielle contributed reporting from Nanterre, France. |