Two minors suspected of having organized an ambush causing the death of Philippe, 22, were indicted, announced the public prosecutor of Dunkirk this Friday. One of them was placed in pre-trial detention.
On the night of Monday April 15 to Tuesday April 16, 2024, Philippe, 22, was fatally attacked in Grande-Synthe (North). This Friday, Dunkirk public prosecutor Charlotte Huet held a press conference from the city’s judicial court to discuss the investigation and provide the latest information.
Two minors indicted for “assassination”
One of the two minors placed in police custody after the events had already admitted to organizing an “ambush” via the free dating site “Coco”, according to information from Agence France Presse, Thursday, from a source close to the matter. This Friday, the prosecutor announced that the two minors were indicted for “murder”. The 14-year-old was found guilty of acts of violence in several cases dating from 2023. The 15-year-old has already been convicted of theft. They allegedly used a tear gas bomb against the victim who fell before being hit on the ground. The 14-year-old minor admitted to having kicked him but denies having wanted to kill Philippe. The 15-year-old recognizes his presence at the scene but not the shots.
Placement in pre-trial detention
The investigation was reclassified as “assassination” and “murder aggravated by the circumstance of ambush”. One of the minors was placed in pre-trial detention today after being presented to an investigating judge. Charlotte Huet also told the press that “other suspects” are currently being sought in this case, inviting potential victims or witnesses to come forward. The suspects did not know the victim according to the first elements of the investigation.
A prize pool launched
Alerted by the firefighters around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, the police discovered the body of the young man lying in a parking lot behind a supermarket, with fractures and wounds to his face, a police source explained on Wednesday. According to a witness, three individuals attacked him, before stealing his phone and fleeing, again according to the same source.
Philippe showed “several traces of blows, particularly on the face”. He was immediately transported to Dunkirk hospital before being sent to Lille hospital center. “He was at his friend’s house at the end of my street. He came back towards my house, 200 meters ago, 300 meters maximum. And they caught him on the way,” revealed one of the victim’s brothers Wednesday afternoon at RTL. The young man’s relatives have launched a fundraiser to “offer Philippe a respectful farewell and bring comfort to his family”.