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Suspect in Trappes shooting placed under psychiatric observation

French anti-terror prosecutors said Sunday the suspect in Friday's deadly shooting in Trappes and La Verrière was moved from custody for a psychiatric evaluation of up to 48 hours, the BBC reported.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Marsh · WhatsNewPaper Desk
What's new
  1. France 24 and The Local France are now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “Paris-suburb shooting kills 1; France opens terror inquiry”
  3. Our desk updated its story

French anti-terrorism prosecutors said Sunday that the man suspected of a deadly drive-by shooting west of Paris had been moved from police custody for psychiatric observation1.

The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) said a psychiatric expert advised the step to assess whether the suspect's health allowed continued interrogation, and that the evaluation could last about 48 hours1.

On Friday morning, a gunman opened fire from a vehicle in Trappes, in the Yvelines area, then in neighboring La Verrière, killing one person and wounding five, including a 12-year-old girl3,4.

The attack lasted about 15 minutes before officers arrested the suspect in nearby Coignières, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said3,4.

President Emmanuel Macron visited Trappes and called the shooting a racist terrorist attack, saying people were targeted over skin color or perceived religion3,4.

PNAT opened an investigation for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, including whether victims were targeted for real or supposed race, ethnicity, nationality or religion3,4,5.

French media named the suspect as 39-year-old Kevin T, known to police but not to intelligence services and not listed as a serious security threat, PNAT told BFMTV1,3.

A police source said he was found with a submachine gun and tear-gas grenades; prosecutors said his apartment had been booby-trapped with gas canisters and a timer4,5.

PNAT said cannabis and cocaine were found in the suspect's bloodstream1.

The person killed was identified Saturday as Pengo Bossio Wangi, 26, a French-Congolese martial artist1. Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the dead man was of African origin and described the attack as racist and probably Islamophobic4.

Three of the wounded were in serious condition, including the 12-year-old, who was shot eight times, according to her mother and local officials1,3. On Sunday, La Verrière Mayor Nicolas Dainville said the girl was doing better after he spoke with her mother1.

Wangi's lawyer told French media the psychiatric observation was very rare and alleged it could be used to portray the suspect as not criminally responsible rather than acting deliberately1. Le Monde and AFP, citing a source close to the inquiry, reported a Bible, a Quran and a copy of Mein Kampf were found at the home1. Motive remains under investigation3,4.

Sources

  1. BBCSuspect in deadly Paris suburb shooting sent for psychiatric observation
  2. CBS NewsDeadly shooting in Paris suburb investigated as terrorism, officials say
  3. BBCDeadly shooting near Paris is a 'racist terrorist attack', Macron says
  4. France 24Live: France’s Macron arrives in Trappes after ‘racist terrorist attack’
  5. The Local FranceGunman kills one and wounds five in suspected terror attack in town outside Paris

Read the original at BBC ↗

How it’s being reported

4 sources

First reported by The Local FranceThe Local France

Where they agree

  • One person was killed and five wounded in a Friday drive-by in Trappes and La Verrière.
  • Prosecutors opened a terrorism-linked murder inquiry and arrested a 39-year-old suspect.
  • Macron described the shooting as a racist terrorist attack.

Where they differ

Whether psychiatric observation implies the suspect may not be criminally responsible

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

BBC

Deadly shooting near Paris is a 'racist terrorist attack', Macron says

Macron's characterization and the sequence of the shooting

Macron called Friday's shooting a racist terrorist attack after one death and five injuries in Trappes and La Verrière. BBC News

Leaves out Sunday's psychiatric observation

Macron's characterization and the sequence of the shooting

What it reports

  • The shooting lasted about 15 minutes, with fire from a car first in Trappes then La Verrière.
  • PNAT said the case appeared to be murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise.
  • The suspect had four automatically expunged convictions and was known to police but not intelligence services, according to local media and PNAT.
  • Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman fired randomly and wanted to cause as many casualties as possible.
  • The mother of a wounded 12-year-old said the girl was shot eight times and had been wearing a headscarf.

Leaves out Sunday's psychiatric observation

Read the original at BBC Read the full article at BBC

Same copy also at: BBC

CBS NewsCBS News

Deadly shooting in Paris suburb investigated as terrorism, officials say

Officials describing a racially motivated terrorist act and the suspect's arrest

Carries AP and AFP reporting on Friday's drive-by shooting in Trappes, prosecutors' terrorism inquiry, and officials' comments on motive.

Leaves out Sunday's psychiatric observation of the suspect

Officials describing a racially motivated terrorist act and the suspect's arrest

What it reports

  • CBS, citing authorities, said a gunman firing from a car killed one person and wounded four in Trappes, with prosecutors treating it as a potential terrorist act.
  • Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh told BFMTV the man was firing at random, wanting to cause a bloodbath.
  • A 12-year-old girl was seriously wounded after being shot eight times but was in stable condition, La Verrière Mayor Nicolas Dainville told AFP.
  • Prosecutors opened an investigation for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, including whether victims were targeted for real or supposed race, ethnicity, nationality or religion.
  • The alleged shooter, a 39-year-old according to a source familiar with the case, was arrested in Coignières.

Leaves out Sunday's psychiatric observation of the suspect

Read the original at CBS News Read the full article at CBS News
France 24France 24

Live: France’s Macron arrives in Trappes after ‘racist terrorist attack’

Macron's visit, victims' backgrounds, and the booby-trapped apartment

Macron called the Trappes drive-by a terrorist and racist attack; prosecutors opened a terrorism-linked murder inquiry.

Leaves out Sunday's psychiatric observation

Macron's visit, victims' backgrounds, and the booby-trapped apartment

What it reports

  • Macron said the victims were targeted solely because of religion and skin color.
  • Police arrested the alleged shooter in Coignières with a submachine gun and tear-gas grenades, according to a police source.
  • Prosecutors said the suspect's flat was booby-trapped with gas canisters and wires connected to a timer.
  • Rabeh said the person killed was of African origin and called the attack racist and probably Islamophobic.
  • La Verrière Mayor Nicolas Dainville said two wounded cleaners at a school were of African origin.

Leaves out Sunday's psychiatric observation

Read the original at France 24 Read the full article at France 24
The Local FranceThe Local France

Gunman kills one and wounds five in suspected terror attack in town outside Paris

Timeline, weapon type, and charges under investigation

Carries AFP reporting on the Trappes and La Verrière shooting, the terrorism inquiry, and early official comments.

Leaves out Sunday's psychiatric observation and the victim's name

Timeline, weapon type, and charges under investigation

What it reports

  • The Local, citing AFP-style official accounts, said the man fired from a vehicle in Trappes then La Verrière around 10:30 a.m. before arrest in Coignières.
  • Five people were hit; one died and others were described as seriously injured, with French media reporting a 12-year-old among them.
  • Anti-terror prosecutors opened inquiries including murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist organisation and possession of a Category A weapon.
  • Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the suspect fired from inside a vehicle using an automatic weapon at people in three areas of the two towns.
  • Mayor Ali Rabeh said the deceased was of African origin and a person in critical condition of North African origin, leaving motive to police.

Leaves out Sunday's psychiatric observation and the victim's name

Read the original at The Local France Read the full article at The Local France