In an unsettling turn of events, 17-year-old Nahel M Merzouk was fatally shot in the early morning of Tuesday at Paris’ Nelson Mandela Square with his shooting video viral
This horrific incident has sparked a wave of protest across France, leading to hundreds of arrests and amplifying calls for justice against systemic police abuse.
Video of Nahel M Merzouk shooting incident by France Police goes viral on Twitter, Reddit
As anger continues to swell, a viral video of the tragic shooting has fueled the public outcry. The officer involved in the killing is currently in custody. Various footages from different perspectives have circulated online, with one showing Nahel M’s yellow Mercedes.
Here is the video people!
The French police are begging "Nahel M" to cooperate and he stomps on the gas. A cop is hit by his car and fires his gun.
What do you think now? Did Macron lie and pour gasoline on a fire? Is the media lying? pic.twitter.com/RjdLN3R5Go
— National Conservative (@NatCon2022) June 29, 2023
Chillingly, an officer can be heard stating in French, “I’m going to put a bullet in your head,” followed by another’s voice urging, “shoot!”
The aftermath of the Nahel M shooting
The second video portrays the deadly moment when an officer fatally shoots Nahel, his pistol pointed towards the young man’s head. Nahel succumbed to his injuries at the scene, his vehicle slowly coming to a stop after striking a utility pole. Two other occupants were in the car, one of whom spoke with law enforcement, while the other managed to escape the scene.
According to local news, the officer shot Nahel to prevent his vehicle from potentially striking someone. The BBC reports that the police had initially stopped his vehicle, bearing a Polish number plate, as Nahel was underage for holding a driving license.
Public reacts to Nahel M’s unfortunate demise
The internet community has reacted vehemently to the incident, with many appalled at the fact that the police considered a 17-year-old a threat. Others drew parallels between Nahel’s case and the infamous death of George Floyd due to police brutality.
Moreover, attempts by some officials and media outlets to paint Nahel as a criminal by highlighting his alleged criminal record and multiple police checks in 2021 have met with frustration from netizens.
Who was Nahel M?
Nahel, of Algerian descent, lived in the Vieux Point neighbourhood of Nanterre with his mother, Mounia, just nine miles from central Paris. For three years, he was a member of the Pirates of Nanterre rugby club.
He was also enrolled at the Ovale Citoyen, an institution aimed at helping students from disadvantaged localities join the workforce. According to various reports, Nahel was training to be an electrician but recently shifted his focus to working as a delivery driver for a local food shop.
In an emotional response to her son’s death, Nahel’s mother, Mounia, said, “He was my life, my best friend.” Similarly, his grandmother fondly remembered him as a “kind, good boy.”
Protests continue in the wake of Nahel’s death
Following Nahel’s death, protests have escalated dramatically, with 875 people arrested so far. As demonstrations rage on, authorities have pledged to hold the police officers accountable for their actions, promising justice in the face of public outrage. The tragic event has indeed triggered a moment of reckoning in France, as citizens fervently demand justice for Nahel M.
ALSO READ: Darren Droz Drozdov cause of death reason, net worth in 2023, bio, age, wife