Suicide of Joris, 21, in Châtonnay: two inquiries opened into racial harassment
The Vienne public prosecutor's office has opened two inquiries following the death of Joris Laurencin, 21, on 13 July in Châtonnay (Isère), amid racial harassment and racist insults.
Two inquiries following the death of Joris Laurencin, 21, in Châtonnay
The Vienne public prosecutor's office has opened two separate inquiries following the suicide of Joris Laurencin, a 21-year-old man found dead on 14 July in Châtonnay (Isère), according to franceinfo.fr. The first concerns the search for the causes of death; the second targets allegations of repeated death threats on grounds of race, psychological harassment, incitement to suicide, hazing and insults based on origin.
Joris's body was discovered the day after his death, which occurred on 13 July. A rifle was found nearby. The medical examiner concluded it was a suicide by firearm.
Repeated insults and humiliation since 2024
According to the family's lawyer, the young man was regularly subjected to insults, threats and humiliation because of his Algerian origins. The alleged perpetrators are young people from Châtonnay and the neighbouring municipality of Saint-Jean-de-Bournay, some of whom are members of a local rugby club. "Joris had had the opportunity to confide in his father on many occasions. He said there were young people from the village, who belonged to the local rugby club, who very regularly, at the occasion of events and celebrations, mocked him because of his Algerian origins," she told ICI Isère.
The family filed a complaint on 17 July for psychological harassment and insults suffered between 2024 and 2026. The Isère-based SOS Racisme association has made legal resources available to Joris's relatives as part of these proceedings.
A call for witnesses following a funfair
On Facebook, the family issued a call for witnesses to reconstruct events, particularly those that occurred at a funfair in Saint-Jean-de-Bournay on 30 June. "Any information, however minor it may seem, can be useful to the inquiry. Today, our family is broken," the message posted online states.
Political reactions
Several left-wing political figures have spoken publicly about the case. On the social network X, the leader of La France Insoumise Jean-Luc Mélenchon described it as "murder by harassment". The first secretary of the Socialist Party Olivier Faure wrote: "Racism kills psychologically".
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If you are going through a period of distress or having suicidal thoughts, the national number 3114 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Suicide Écoute association also offers support on 01 45 39 40 00.
Source: Le Monde - Justice