Argos: Police officers shot man in the head during a pursuit

An investigation by the Nafplio Security Department, with the assistance of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the severe injury of a 20-year-old man in the Argos area, approximately half an hour after 2:00 a.m.

The young Greek-Russian man failed to stop at a checkpoint by OPKE officers and attempted to run over police personnel. A pursuit followed, involving dangerous manoeuvres, and when he was eventually trapped by patrol cars, he rammed them, with police officers inside. He then got out of the vehicle, threw away a handgun — which was later found to be an air pistol — and attempted to escape by climbing over a wall.

Two police officers fired their weapons in an attempt to immobilise him, and one bullet struck him in the head, causing severe injuries.

The 20-year-old had previously come to the attention of authorities, as it emerged that he had been involved in a past violation of firearms legislation. At the time, a knuckleduster, a baton and a police beacon had been found in his possession and in his vehicle.

The victim is being treated at Thriasio Hospital in critical condition, while an investigation is being conducted to determine whether the injury was caused by ricochet, deflection or a direct shot fired by the officer who hit him. The two police officers were arrested and an investigation is underway, while disciplinary proceedings have also been launched against them.

Police statement

“Early morning hours today, 8 July 2026, officers of the Argolida Crime Prevention and Suppression Unit (OPKE) attempted to carry out a check on a vehicle driver in an area of Argos.

The driver failed to comply with the officers’ stop signals, accelerated in order to avoid the inspection, and attempted to ram police officers who were outside their service vehicles, as well as service vehicles themselves during his escape. A pursuit followed, during which he drove in an extremely dangerous manner.

Eventually, the vehicle was trapped by patrol cars, which he rammed, and the driver then abandoned the vehicle on foot, attempting to escape by climbing over a wall. Two police officers used their service weapons, resulting in the man’s injury. An EKAB ambulance was immediately called to the scene and transported him to a hospital, after which he was transferred to a hospital in Attica, where he remains hospitalised.

Along his escape route, near the location where the initial stop signal was given by police officers, an air pistol was found and seized. It will be sent to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for laboratory examination.

The competent prosecutor was immediately informed of the incident, while, under the flagrante delicto procedure, the two involved police officers were arrested. A case file is being prepared against them for violation of firearms legislation and causing grievous bodily harm. At the same time, the prescribed disciplinary procedure has been initiated to investigate the exact circumstances under which the incident occurred.

The preliminary investigation is being carried out by the Nafplio Department for the Prosecution and Investigation of Crimes, with the assistance of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime.”