The man suspected of having fired on a café terrace on Monday evening in Paris, killing one person and injuring four slightly, is a 16-year-old minor and was taken into police custody, AFP learned on Tuesday from sources close to the case who favor the thesis of the settling of accounts. The town hall of the 11th arrondissement of Paris, a district marked by the attacks of January and November 2015, opened a medico-psychological emergency cell on Tuesday for witnesses to the shooting for which a second suspect is still wanted.
The privileged track of settling accounts
An investigation for “murder in an organized gang, attempted murder in an organized gang, association of criminals with a view to committing a crime and acquisition and possession of a category A weapon” has been opened, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday. The investigations have been entrusted to the criminal brigade and the 2nd judicial police district, the prosecution added. The facts took place around 9:30 p.m., rue Popincourt, in the 11th arrondissement of the capital.
“Two individuals got out of a vehicle and shot at two individuals seated on the terrace of a bar”, detailed the prefecture on Monday evening to AFP, adding that the hypothesis of a settlement of accounts was favored at this stage. According to the mayor of the 11th arrondissement, François Vauglin, the shooting took place in a “shisha bar”. “The bar patrons subdued one of the two assailants,” the chosen one added in a tweet.
“It lasted 4-5 seconds”
“We saw a car arrive, they came out with a weapon – I would have said a submachine gun or a Kalashnikov – they fired and they left”, testified to AFP Antoine, owner of a restaurant close. Martin and Lucas were having a drink on the terrace when they saw an “anthracite” car passing by. “We heard gunshots and then we saw a guy who got into the car, which sped off. And then we heard screams,” they told AFP.
“We heard about ten very fast shots, it really lasted 4-5 seconds,” added Martin. The injured people did not seem to have been hit by bullets, according to the first elements collected by the police headquarters.