Argos: 20-Year-Old Shot by Police Officers Dies – Officers Remanded in Custody

The 20-year-old man who had been critically injured after being shot by police officers during a pursuit in Argos in the early hours of July 8 has died.

The young man, who had been declared brain-dead and was being treated in critical condition while on life support in the Intensive Care Unit of Athens’ KAT Hospital, passed away late on Saturday night (July 12).

Earlier on Saturday, the two police officers involved in the pursuit and shooting were ordered to be held in pretrial detention.

Following lengthy testimony before an investigating magistrate in Nafplio, the investigating judge and prosecutor unanimously decided to remand the officers in custody, ruling that the legal conditions for pretrial detention had been met.

“There was no intent” – What the officers claimed

The two members of the Greek police’s OPKE tactical unit, who are accused over the shooting of the 20-year-old during the pursuit, rejected the prosecution’s key allegations during their testimony.

They insisted they had no intention of killing the young man, disputed the allegation of eventual intent (dolus eventualis), and maintained that they fired their weapons as warning shots intended to intimidate rather than to kill.

According to their testimony, “The suspect attempted to hit us with his vehicle at least twice and also caused damage to police vehicles.”

The officers had been charged with attempted homicide with eventual intent.

Following the victim’s death, however, prosecutors are expected to upgrade the charges.

Defense lawyer’s statement

After the court’s decision, the officers’ lawyer, Petros Koukoulis, confirmed that his clients had been remanded in custody.

“Obviously, they did not convince the court. When you are ordered into pretrial detention, it means you did not convince it,” he said.

According to Orange Press Agency, Koukoulis noted that, at the time of the ruling, the charge remained attempted homicide with eventual intent. He also said the two officers would be transferred to Korydallos Prison.

He added that they have the right to appeal the detention order within the next ten days, although such an appeal would concern only the legal aspects of the case.

Describing the investigation as particularly complex and sensitive, Koukoulis said both the investigating judge and prosecutor had to weigh all aspects of a case involving police officers on one side and a young man who had been declared brain-dead on the other.

Regarding the defense strategy, he reiterated that his clients have consistently maintained they had no criminal intent.

Referring to the circumstances of the shooting, he said: “No one knows exactly how the young man was shot. The bullet could have ricocheted; there are countless possibilities. Nobody knows. Even the prosecutor was asking how he had been struck.”

He added that these questions will ultimately be answered in court through ballistic reports, forensic evidence, and expert testimony.

Earlier, Greek broadcaster MEGA aired new footage from the pursuit in Argos.

The video shows the police officers opening fire during the chase. Seconds later, the 20-year-old collapses after being seriously wounded.

Investigation ongoing

Meanwhile, the Nafplio Security Department, assisted by the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Investigators are focusing on the results of the ballistic examination, which is expected to determine how the young man was struck. According to the investigation, the two officers fired several shots into the air during the foot pursuit, while they were still some distance from the point where the suspect abandoned his vehicle and ran toward a wall.

The forensic examiner’s report will also be crucial in determining whether the fatal injury was caused by a direct bullet impact or by bullet fragments following a ricochet.

Police recovered 13 shell casings at the scene and are examining which officer fired each shot, which weapon caused the fatal injury, and whether the victim was struck by a direct shot or by a ricochet. Investigators are also examining two impact marks found on a nearby wall to determine whether they were caused by bullets fired into the air or by direct fire.