Teenager shot by police officers dies in hospital
A 16-year-old boy who was shot in the head by a police officer last week died on Tuesday, the Ippokrateio General Hospital in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, said in an announcement.
The Roma teenager was shot while driving a pickup truck that was being chased by officers of the DIAS motorcycle riding squad after he left a gas station, allegedly without paying his 20-euro bill.
In a letter to the teenager’s family, the hospital confirmed that he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning.
The 16-year-old was in a coma in intensive care after having undergone extensive surgery.
The shooting has sparked outrage in the Roma community, which says it was racially motivated.
Citizens’ protection minister expresses condolences over teen’s death
Citizens’ Protection Minister Takis Theodorikakos expressed condolences over the death on Tuesday of a Roma teenager who had been shot by a police officer last week, but also sought to curb expected reactions to the news.
“I express deep sadness for the death of the 16-year-old boy and my support for his family,” the minister said in a post on Twitter, adding: “I repeat that the case is being investigated by justice, which is the only one that can assess the events and assign responsibility. We should all respect that.”
