Police shoot 14-year-old in Munich-Schwabing: Contradictory accounts
A 14-year-old was shot by police officers in Munich with a replica airgun in his hand. Family and police give conflicting accounts of the incident.
Shots fired at teenager in Schwabing: Family contradicts police account
A 14-year-old was shot and seriously injured by police officers in the Munich district of Schwabing on Tuesday evening. According to Google News DE — Crime (de) citing the taz, the teenager was carrying a replica airgun – a toy that, according to multiple reports, is also clearly recognisable as such on surveillance video. Residents had alerted the police.
There are significant contradictions between the police and the boy's family regarding the precise course of events during the operation.
Police: teenager turned towards officers with raised weapon
Authorities stated they initially believed the boy to be an adult. He had made a hand movement as if he were cocking a weapon, and then turned towards officers with the raised weapon. The shots were then fired. This version was repeated by numerous local and national media outlets as established fact.
Family: son begged for his life
The boy's mother described the incident differently. Her son had raised his arms, pointed out that it was a replica, and shouted: "It's a toy" – followed by "Please don't shoot!" Despite this, he was shot, restrained and pinned to the ground. Only paramedics freed the seriously injured and traumatised teenager. The family also complained that the police had not informed them of the incident.
Toy weapon for one euro – easy to confuse
At a press conference, a police spokesperson showed images of the replica airgun compared to a genuine Beretta 92. The similarity between the two is indeed striking. Users on social media subsequently drew attention to how easily such toy weapons can be purchased at discount retailer KiK for approximately one euro – without any age restriction. Whether weapon replicas should be sold as toys at all remained an open question.
Statement against statement – without independent investigation
Major media outlets have since reported on the conflicting accounts. Süddeutsche Zeitung cited a press statement from the family, and Bayerischer Rundfunk interviewed the boy's mother. Kurdish activists ensured that the family's perspective received public attention through social media.
An independent investigation of the incident by an external authority, in which all those involved are heard, does not exist in Bavaria or elsewhere in Germany. The police are investigating the case against themselves once again.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)