Jean-Pierre Ferrara
Jean-Pierre Ferrara, 51, was shot killed by police in his backyard on October 28, 2016, in Echirolles, France.
Ferrara’s neighbor called the police and said that Ferrara had threatened him with a gun. When the police arrived at Ferrara’s house he was in his backyard. The police said officers were outside the backyard fence and Ferrara was holding a machete in his hand. Officers ordered him to put it down and he did so. After that, according to the officers, he took out a weapon, and they fired at him in self-defense. The police fired three shots at Ferrara, one of the shots was fatal.
The victim’s family does not believe in self-defense version. Ferrara’s wife and son say he had hearing problems and was drunk when the police arrived. They believe that he did not understand what was happening. Ferrara’s son also noted that his father had an air pistol. The victim’s family lawyer said the police were wearing bulletproof vests and that they could use tasers or other non-lethal methods.
In April 2021, the family of Ferrara told media they intend to fight for justice for him.
MASS MEDIA ABOUT THE CASE:
“For me, this is murder, not self-defense. The police should never have shot him like that. My husband was not violent. He wouldn’t have attacked officers … He didn’t deserve to die in such conditions. We want justice,” said Ferrara’s wife.
“However, the police were targeting Jean-Pierre Ferrara. They asked him to put down a machete he had in his hand. And they explain that then, they saw him putting his hand behind his back to look for his weapon and they fired by reflex, they said. They are professionals, it should not have happened,” said Ferrara family’s lawyer.
CASE STATUS:
The initiative group has requested the clarification from Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin and Prime Minister of France Jean Castex. The initiative group believes it is important to fight against police brutality and, if necessary, will provide legal assistance to the family of the victim.