A man found himself between life and death at the Médipôle this Thursday. He was shot in the chest and shoulder in the south of Dumbéa. The alleged perpetrator of the shooting is a GIGN gendarme. In the press release sent by the public prosecutor, a return shot and the possibility of self-defense are mentioned.
What happened in the south of Dumbéa on Wednesday? In the evening, a man was seriously injured by gunfire near the small rue des Lilas, to the point where his life was in jeopardy. However, the perpetrator of the shots would be a gendarme. And the prosecutor announced this Thursday, an investigation was opened for attempted murder of a person holding public authority. It is carried out by the Nouméa research section.
Here is the story that Yves Dupas transmits at this stage. The succession of facts takes place in Koutio, on the edge of Auteuil. “The first investigations made it possible to establish that shortly before 8 p.m., a person reported the presence of a group of alcoholic individuals on Avenue de la Tonghoué, specifying that they had heard several detonations. In view of the concern expressed by local residents and of their potential danger, gendarmes from the intervention group of the national gendarmerie are quickly transported to the scene.”
The prosecutor continues. “When they arrived at Avenue de la Tonghoué, they found themselves faced with around fifteen individuals observing very hostile behavior. Insults are uttered”he relates, citing racist insults, “and stones were thrown in the direction of the gendarmes in order to slow their progress. Three individuals suspected of violence by throwing stones were immediately arrested and placed in police custody.”
“At this location, several shell casings were found, confirming the detonations heard by the neighborhood,” writes Yves Dupas. “The gendarmes then saw a man, in possession of a weapon, fleeing in the direction of avenue d’Auteuil. A device aimed at arresting him was put in place, while the man took rue des Aloès , before reaching a grove to hide.”
“As the gendarmes approach, he comes out of the thicket and shoots towards them”indicates this same press release from the prosecutor, who adds : “Several summons were made by the security forces. A gendarme, positioned about fifteen meters away, saw that the shooter was shouldering the weapon, which he was pointing in his direction. Faced with this threat, the gendarme who instantly , heard an explosion, issued warnings again before using his service weapon, in a response action, firing six times towards the shooter.”
Shooter who fled towards a house “where he is found, injured“. After receiving first aid, “provided by a GIGN doctor”, the man was transported by the gendarmes to the Médipôle where he received surgery. Despite this, his vital prognosis is still in jeopardy this evening, with a projectile received in the chest and another in the shoulder.
The investigation into attempted murder “targets the actions accused of the alleged shooter who, to ensure his escape, opened fire with his rifle several times in the direction of the gendarmes”explains Yves Dupas. “At the same time, an investigation into the causes of the injuries to the arrested man is being carried out.” It is a question of determining in what exact circumstances the gendarme used his weapon. “Investigators have already made the first findings, collected several testimonies and a ballistic expertise has also been ordered.”
At this stage, the preferred hypothesis by the prosecution is that of a necessary and proportionate use by the gendarme of his service weapon, in an action of legitimate defense in the face of imminent danger of death.
Press release from the prosecutor, May 30, 2024
The custody of the three people arrested continues. They are accused of intentional violence against the gendarmes by throwing stones.