©Amin Zabardast via Unsplash
Louis, a 17-year-old boy from Narbonne, France, has died following an extremely violent attack that, according to the prosecutor’s office, was premeditated. On Friday evening, he was lured into an ambush at a remote construction site in Narbonne and severely beaten. Five days later, he succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
According to preliminary findings from the investigation, several youths lured Louis to a remote construction site in Narbonne. There, he was beaten and left behind, after which a construction worker found him unconscious the following morning. The teenager suffered severe injuries to his head and face and was initially admitted to the Narbonne hospital. He was then transferred to Perpignan for specialized care due to the severity of his condition.
Videos on social media
Investigators were able to quickly break the case thanks to videos of the attack circulating on social media. The footage shows a group of youths repeatedly punching and kicking the boy before leaving him behind.
Based on this evidence, five suspects have been identified: two 19-year-olds and three minors. They have been charged and placed in pretrial detention. The case was initially investigated as attempted murder. However, following Louis’s death, the charges are likely to be upgraded.
Background on the boy
Louis was staying at a youth care facility in Narbonne. According to local media, this was not ordered by a judge but requested by his family. Investigators are still looking into whether he and the suspects knew each other through various shelters in Occitanie.
Motive?
The exact motive remains unclear, but the prosecutor is considering the possibility of an act of revenge. The suspects’ statements contradict one another. The investigation must further clarify who played what role in the attack.
©Amin Zabardast via Unsplash - illustrative image