The main suspect of the racist shooting perpetrated last Friday in France, which left one dead and five injured, has assured investigators that he receives medical treatment for schizophrenia. He is Kevin T., a 39-year-old man detained for his alleged involvement in the attack carried out in Trappes and La Verrière, two localities in the Yvelines department, southwest of Paris. The information was reported this Sunday by the French network TF1-LCI and confirmed by Le Parisien, which cites sources close to the investigation. For the moment, this is a statement from the suspect himself and no independent medical confirmation about the diagnosis or the treatment he claims to be undergoing has emerged.
The revelation comes after the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office of France (PNAT) announced the suspension of the police custody of the investigated for psychiatric reasons. After an initial evaluation carried out during the night of Saturday, the authorities decided to transfer him to the psychiatric infirmary of the Paris Police Prefecture, where he will remain under a period of observation that could extend up to 48 hours. The objective is to determine if his health condition allows for the continuation of the interrogations. This decision does not imply the closure of the investigation nor does it, by itself, mean that the suspect is considered criminally not liable.
Police custody of the suspect suspended to subject him to a psychiatric evaluation
According to the information provided by the Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office and reported by French media, Kevin T. was examined by a psychiatry specialist on Saturday night, after having been under police custody since his detention on Friday. Following that assessment, it was agreed to temporarily interrupt the interrogations and transfer him to a specialized unit to observe his evolution and determine if he meets the necessary conditions to testify again.
The change in procedural situation occurs at a time when investigators are trying to reconstruct both the preparation of the attack and the motivations of the alleged perpetrator. The Prosecutor's Office has taken over the case upon noticing signs of a possible terrorist and racist motivation, although relevant aspects of the suspect's actions remain to be clarified.
The existence of a possible psychiatric disorder does not automatically determine the criminal responsibility of the detainee nor does it alone explain the attack. Medical and judicial evaluations must establish what relevance his health status has in the procedure, without replacing the investigation into the facts and their possible ideological motivation.
One dead and five injured in the attack in Trappes and La Verrière
The shooting occurred during the morning of Friday, October 23, when a man opened fire at different points in Trappes and La Verrière, in the Yvelines department. According to the reconstruction by investigators, the attacker fired bursts from a vehicle using an automatic weapon and traveled several streets in both municipalities before being intercepted by the Police.
The deceased victim has been identified as Pengo Bossio Wangi, a 26-year-old linked to the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). The athlete, who aspired to develop a professional career, was shot multiple times during the attack. Five other people were injured, including a 12-year-old girl who suffered eight bullet wounds, according to information published by Le Parisien. The severity of her injuries has caused particular concern among neighbors and family members of the victims.
The suspect was located and arrested shortly after the events in Coignières, another locality near the shooting area. His arrest ended the attack and opened an investigation involving specialized units of the Police and the French internal security services.
The Prosecutor's Office investigates a possible terrorist and racist motivation
The first statements attributed to the detainee point to a possible racist motivation. According to reports from Le Monde and Le Parisien, Kevin T. would have acknowledged his involvement in the shootings and stated that he intended to attack black and Arab people. He would also have linked his actions to the disturbances recorded during the previous weekend, claiming that he sought to avenge the merchants affected by the looting.
These elements led the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office to open proceedings for murder and attempted murder linked to a possible terrorist activity, incorporating the aggravating circumstance of discrimination based on racial, ethnic, national, or religious grounds. Authorities are also investigating the possession of the weapon used and the possible prior preparation of the attack.
During the searches carried out at the suspect's home, agents found a copy of "Mein Kampf," by Adolf Hitler, in addition to a Bible and a Quran, according to Le Parisien. Investigators also located an alleged device prepared with gas canisters and wires connected to a timer, the nature and purpose of which are part of the investigations.
On the other hand, toxicological analyses detected the presence of cannabis and cocaine in the blood of the detainee, as confirmed by the French Prosecutor's Office. This result constitutes an additional element of the investigation, although it does not alone establish what influence those substances may have had on his behavior during the attack.
The victim's family questions the decision to transfer him to a psychiatric unit
The suspension of the interrogations has generated criticism among the representatives of Pengo Bossio Wangi, the deceased young man. His lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, has expressed to Le Parisien his concern about the possibility that attention may shift towards the psychiatric state of the suspect instead of focusing on the alleged racist motivation of the events.
The lawyer considers it necessary that the medical evaluation does not blur the ideological component investigated by the authorities and has questioned why the debate about mental health gains so much relevance in cases of violence attributed to the far right. This is a viewpoint expressed by the legal representation of the family, while the Prosecutor's Office maintains that psychiatric observation responds to the need to determine whether the suspect can continue to be interrogated.
Meanwhile, the shock from the attack has spread to various locations in the Paris region. This Sunday, a march in tribute to Pengo Bossio Wangi has been called in Aubervilliers, where the young man trained at a mixed martial arts club. The mobilization seeks to remember the victim and express rejection of racist violence.
The investigation remains open and the next decision will depend on the results of the psychiatric observation. Specialists will have to determine if Kevin T. can testify again, while investigators continue gathering evidence about the preparation of the shooting, the circumstances of the shots, and the motivations attributed to the suspect.