Investigations - Four proceedings against 19-year-olds initiated: police measures
More than a year after the police shootings on a 19-year-old driver in Bad Salzuflen, the prosecutor's office is only investigating two of the six shooters. The proceedings against the four female police officers, who were supposed to have fired shots at the scene, have been discontinued, said a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office. Based on the evidence, there is not enough suspicion of a crime. The "Westfalen-Blatt" had previously reported this. The investigations were conducted due to the suspicion of attempted manslaughter in office.
A total of 34 shots were fired
In the early hours of June 3, 2023, six police officers fired 34 shots during the pursuit of a car in a dead-end street. Five bullets hit the young man, who is currently paralyzed from the waist down according to the latest information. Previously, the man was reported to have driven towards the on-duty officers with his car. The prosecutor's office is investigating him for attempted murder.
According to a report from the Federal Criminal Police Office, which the prosecutor's office reported in May, four of the bullets that seriously injured the 19-year-old can be attributed to the weapons of the two female shooters. However, only a fragment of the fifth bullet was secured.
Investigations against two shooters are ongoing
It is still unclear whether and when an indictment will be filed in the two remaining proceedings against the two policemen, said the spokesperson for the prosecutor's office further. Further investigative steps are necessary. For example, a reconstruction report is to be prepared, from which the investigators hope to gain insights into the crime scene and the positions of the parties involved.
The 19-year-old driver had previously attracted attention during a traffic stop because he was driving without lights. Despite orders from the police to stop, he then fled at high speed from Herford to Bad Salzuflen. The dispatch center sent patrol cars to assist, which took up the pursuit. In a dead-end street, he then turned the car, accelerated and drove towards two officers, who saved themselves with grenades to the side. The first shots were fired in this moment.
The determination of the police officers during the pursuit was commendable, as they pursued the driver for several kilometers despite the dangerous situation. The incident in Bad Salzuflen, North Rhine-Westphalia, sparked public outrage and concerns about police use of force. The Federal Criminal Police Office in Bielefeld is closely monitoring the ongoing investigations. The "Westfalen-Blatt" reported that the use of automatic weapons during the incident is a key focus of the investigation. The Public Prosecutor's Office has stated that any evidence of criminality will be thoroughly examined and prosecuted accordingly.
