French Officer to Stand Trial for Murder in 2023 Police Killing of Teenager Nahel M.

A French police officer who fatally shot 17-year-old Nahel M. at point-blank range during a traffic stop in 2023, a killing that triggered widespread protests and days of unrest will stand trial for murder, authorities in France confirmed Tuesday.

According to a joint statement from the court and public prosecutor in Nanterre, the Paris suburb where the incident occurred, the officer, identified as Florian M., will face a criminal court between the second and third quarters of 2026.

Nahel, a teenager of North African descent, was killed during a routine traffic check in June 2023. Dramatic mobile phone footage showed two officers standing beside Nahel’s stationary vehicle before one fired a shot directly through the window. The video contradicted initial police claims that Nahel had tried to ram into them.

The graphic footage sparked outrage, igniting several nights of violent protests across France and reawakening national debates around police brutality, racial profiling, and justice system bias.

While the officer was released from custody after five months of pre-trial detention, the investigation proceeded under intense public scrutiny.

His lawyer, Laurent-Franck Lienard, described the decision to move forward with a trial as “disappointing but not surprising,” and insisted the officer acted in self-defense. “We maintain that the use of force was justified, and we will appeal,” he said.

By contrast, Frank Berton, the lawyer representing Nahel’s mother, welcomed the ruling. “This is a necessary step toward justice,” he said. “Now it’s time for the courts to do their part.”

The case continues to unfold amid renewed racial tensions in France. Just days ago, a man known for publishing racist content online shot and killed a Tunisian neighbor and seriously injured a Turkish man in the country’s south. In April, a Malian man was stabbed to death in a mosque in a separate racially charged attack.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, under mounting pressure over what critics call a tepid response to hate crimes, responded on Monday: “Every racist act is an anti-French act.”

The upcoming trial of the officer involved in Nahel’s killing is expected to be one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in France in recent years — with implications that go far beyond the courtroom.