Nahel, 17, was killed by the police during a traffic stop in Nanterre, France, on June 27. While the third passenger in the car turned himself in to the police to give his testimony, the second passenger, in the back of the car, gave his version of the events to Le Parisien on Monday, July 3. The 14-year-old recalls the day of the tragedy.
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The rear passenger's story
On the morning of June 27, Nahel, driving a yellow Mercedes-Benz A-Class, passed by 14-year-old Adam on his way to school. The man he considered his 'big brother from the neighborhood' offered to give him a ride to take the Brevet exams, the French equivalent to GCSE. The teenager settled into the back seat, insisting that he didn't know Nahel didn't have a driver's license. Adam's father, Georges, confirms this.
On the road, two policemen on motorcycles ask the Mercedes to stop, but Nahel refused. The carfinally got caught in a traffic jam, and the two policemen took up position on the left-hand side of the vehicle. The rest of the scene was filmed and posted on social media.
Angry French paramedic who handled 17yo Nahel killed by the police:
— HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) July 3, 2023
"You can see he's just a kid! [Killed] for not having a driver's license? Nanterre will hit the roof!" pic.twitter.com/YSf8vR28Kz
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'He's crazy, he shot me'
According to Adam, the police then pointed their guns at Nahel.He reportedly took 'about three blows, and tried to protect his head'. The teenager then took his foot off the car's brakes, 'probably out of panic, trying to protect himself'. Adam recalls that Nahel did not mean to flee, he simply took his foot off the brakes after being hit in the head.
The car moved forward on its own. It was an automatic. And the policeman told his colleague to shoot. And the gun went off.
Adam then told Le Parisien about Nahel's supposed last words.
Nahel, after he was shot, allegedly said: 'He's crazy, he shot me'.
These were apparently the young man's last words, before he crashed into some street furniture. 'There was no blood, but he was leaning to one side,' says the schoolboy. Then, Adam was arrested by the police.
I found myself on the ground. I told (the policeman) I hadn't done anything, and he said, 'Shut the f*** up'. Then he handcuffed me.
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This article has been translated from Oh!MyMag FR.
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