Investigations into shooting of twelve-year-old girl in Bochum continue
Following a police operation in November, investigations into two officers continue. The prosecutor's office is still waiting for expert reports on the shooting distance.
Investigations into shooting of twelve-year-old girl in Bochum continue
According to radiobochum.de, investigations in the case of the twelve-year-old girl who was seriously injured during a police operation in Bochum are far from complete. The prosecutor's office states that the proceedings are particularly extensive — numerous witnesses are being questioned and an expert report from the state criminal police office of North Rhine-Westphalia is still outstanding.
The expert report is to evaluate powder residue traces and thereby clarify how far the police officer was from the girl when the shot was fired. According to the prosecutor's office, a conclusion of the investigations is not currently foreseeable and could take several more months.
The twelve-year-old was seriously injured by a gunshot during the operation on the night of 17 November and was temporarily in life-threatening condition. She had disappeared from a facility in Münster, urgently needed medication and was later found in her mother's flat in Bochum. The police stated they had feared a knife attack. The operation escalated when the mother was restrained and the twelve-year-old appeared shortly afterwards armed with knives.
Investigations are being conducted against the officer who fired the shot on suspicion of attempted manslaughter. A second police officer is under suspicion of assault with a weapon in connection with the use of a Taser. Both are now back on duty. The family's solicitor expressed doubts about the police account following the incident and criticised that important witnesses had been questioned too late. Essen police rejected these allegations.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)