French Police Officer Fired Tear Gas Grenade at 14-Year-Old, Shattering His Jaw
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 19
French Police Officer Fired Tear Gas Grenade at 14-Year-Old, Shattering His Jaw
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 19
Summary
A male officer in a Paris suburb fired a tear gas grenade from about 2 yards into a 14-year-old boy’s face during school unrest last month, breaking his jaw and destroying many of his teeth.
Video verified by The New York Times, prosecutors and a teacher indicate the confrontation escalated after the officer shoved the boy with a tear gas launcher, a female officer struck him with a baton, and the boy kicked at her.
The boy, identified only as Eden, underwent surgery the next day and has been unable to speak since, according to his lawyer.
Prosecutors said the officer told investigators he fired because he believed the female officer was at risk; he has been suspended and placed under investigation, while the Interior Ministry declined comment.
After a tear gas grenade shattered a 14-year-old's jaw, will France's temporary ban on crowd-control weapons become permanent?
With teenagers suffering war-like injuries during protests, how will the French government balance restoring order against accusations of excessive police brutality?
As protests over underfunded schools escalate into violent clashes, what psychological toll will this militarized policing take on France's next generation?