Murder of a 14-year-old teenager in Alénya: between shock and grief, more than 500 people to pay tribute to Emilio

“Emilio, I love you my brother. And I will never forget you.” The broken, sorrowful voice of his best friend, carried by the wind and tearing through the religious silence of the crowd, was enough to convey all the emotion of that Sunday afternoon in Alénya. In this town where 10 days ago this 14-year-old teenager was found horribly beaten to death, at the home of his mother and stepfather who had probably fled a few days ago.

Faced with horror and the incomprehensible, more than 500 people, including the father and relatives of the deceased boy, but also many people from the village as well as many residents of Saint-Cyprien, families, children, elderly people, teachers and elected officials, gathered in front of the town hall shortly before 1:30 p.m. to answer the call from a group of Emilio's classmates. Around thirty young people of admirable courage and dignity who, dressed all in white, with white roses in their hands and the photo of their friend clutched to them, held the front ranks of this immense procession of sobbing. A measure of the emotion that gripped an entire village.

“Everyone here feels very concerned and needed this moment”

Barely a few steps and all the customers like the managers of the wine cellar on Place Sayroux suddenly get up from their chairs, and stop all noise, heads bowed as they pass in order to salute the initiative and show their support for their grief . Watching the white march continue its route, going up to the schools roundabout to finally reach rue Aristide-Maillol and meditate in front of Emilio's house. Or rather the terrible final resting place of this teenager who smiles in his glossy paper portraits but who was not able to celebrate his 15th birthday on October 27.

“We are here for him. For his family too and especially his little sister who finds herself alone (*)” we confide in a low voice. “It’s like he’s my kid.”continues a neighbor. “I had to be there because he was a lovely student and to support his classmates“, adds a former middle school teacher of Emilio. “My daughter was a childhood friend of Emilio, from nursery, kindergarten, primary school, middle school and until today,” book a mom. “I think it was important to pay him a last tribute, for the children to all be together, and I think it did them good, before the start of school this Monday.” “It’s a very nice participation, especially since the idea of ​​this march was born a few days ago,” summary discreetly Mayor Jean-André Magdalou. “But everyone here feels very concerned even though they don't necessarily have a connection to the family, because, even if we don't have all the answers to the questions, it's a story of violence. They needed this moment so that this boy would not leave in silence. Further on, some residents or former residents of Alénya felt it was natural to participate in this tribute. “out of solidarity and empathy”. “It's a small village and it affects a lot of people. We think it's terrible what happened to this little one, even if we didn't know him because we have children too. And then, we don't understand . We wonder how this is possible? How can we end up with the death of a child? And the last to share: “We are all in shock. We can’t believe it. To think that it happened in the village, there…”

“Emilio would be very proud to see you all here today”

And, for a minute of silence, imagining what could have happened behind these shutters now closed by the seals of the criminal investigation, tears flow down people's faces. Young people and then anonymous people parade to place mountains of bouquets in front of the gate. Some light candles, others cross themselves or kneel to pray. Emilio's father comes forward to kiss the young people on the forehead, thank them and try to comfort them. “You lost a friend, I lost a son. I know it’s very hard but over time, we will have to remember the good times we spent with him,” he whispers to them. Today, he will not speak. He will leave the words to his son's childhood friends. To his best friend, devastated “Emilio was just a little boy who always had the right words when he needed to be there for others. And for me,” he cries. While a young girl in turn tries to desperately stifle her pain on the microphone. “Emilio would be very proud to see you all here today. He was a very good boy who didn't deserve all this. I hope he is better off where he is. And that he is happy again” .