A young French police officer, Éric G., has been in pre-trial detention for 15 months following a shooting incident involving an Algerian migrant. The incident occurred on June 29, 2024, when Éric G., who was off-duty at the time, responded to suspicious noises in his grandmother"s garage in Bobigny, near Paris. During the confrontation, he reported that a struggle ensued, and he fired his service weapon in self-defense after the migrant approached him with an object, later identified as a caulking gun.
Éric G."s lawyer, Laurent-Franck Lienard, claims that the officer is being unfairly persecuted due to racial biases, stating, "Basically, it was a blond man with blue eyes who shot an Algerian." Despite multiple requests for release, all seven have been denied by the court, which cites concerns that Éric G. might "reoffend." Lienard contests this reasoning, arguing that it is unreasonable to suggest that the officer would encounter a similar situation again.
The officer"s family has expressed distress over his prolonged detention. His mother stated that he is struggling with mental health issues while in prison, where police officers are often targets and kept in isolation. She revealed that he has expressed dark thoughts and has struggled significantly during his incarceration.
Éric G."s grandmother passed away a few months ago, and the family chose not to inform her of his imprisonment to protect her from distress. The case has yet to go to trial, and the legal proceedings surrounding the incident continue to unfold.
