Deadly Police Shooting in Central Franconia: Investigation Closed, Officer Justified in Use of Force
Nuremberg, June 2024 – The fatal shooting of a 34-year-old man in Central Franconia in June 2024 has resulted in no criminal charges against the involved federal police officer. The Nuremberg-Fürth Public Prosecutor’s Office has concluded its investigation and determined that the officer’s actions were justified under the principle of self-defense.
Incident Details
On the fateful day in Lauf an der Pegnitz, the federal police officer had responded to reports of a disturbance involving a man armed with a knife. As the officer and her colleagues approached the man, he allegedly brandished the weapon and charged towards them.
The officer repeatedly ordered the man to stop and threatened to use her firearm if he failed to comply. However, her commands went unheeded, and pepper spray proved ineffective in deterring the man’s advance.
Faced with an imminent threat to her and her colleagues’ safety, the officer discharged a single aimed shot at the man. The man sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigation Findings
The subsequent investigation conducted by the Nuremberg-Fürth Public Prosecutor’s Office thoroughly examined the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The accounts provided by the involved federal police officers and eyewitnesses on the scene were consistent and corroborated the officer’s claim of self-defense.
According to the investigation findings, the man had ignored the officer’s repeated commands to halt and had displayed aggressive behavior. Non-lethal force measures, such as pepper spray, had failed to subdue him. The officer’s use of lethal force was deemed to be the only viable option to protect herself and her colleagues from harm.
Legal Justification
In its decision to close the investigation, the Nuremberg-Fürth Public Prosecutor’s Office relied on the principle of self-defense enshrined in German law. Under this principle, individuals are permitted to use reasonable force to defend themselves against unlawful attacks.
In this case, the officer’s use of lethal force was deemed necessary and proportional to the threat posed by the armed man. The man’s aggressive behavior and the failure of non-lethal force measures justified the officer’s belief that her and her colleagues’ lives were in immediate danger.
Conclusion
The investigation into the fatal police shooting in Central Franconia has concluded with no criminal charges being filed against the involved officer. The officer’s actions were deemed justified under the principle of self-defense, as she acted reasonably to protect herself and her colleagues from imminent harm.
