“There is a lot of adrenaline, but you have to keep your cool”: a municipal police officer recounts his face-to-face encounter with the armed man who killed himself in a Nice parking lot on Sunday

At 6:14 p.m., this Sunday, November 17, 2024, an emergency call terminal is activated on Boulevard François-Grosso, in Nice. A man, armed with a firearm, was seen in the presence of a woman, in the private garage of a building, at number 23. A heated altercation appeared to be underway. Law enforcement patrols are alerted. Less than ten minutes later, a crew of eight municipal police officers, six men and two women, arrived on site, thinking they were dealing with a hostage situation. Half an hour later, they will be supported by their colleagues from the national police. In the meantime, they are alone in the face of danger, unbearably face to face with the clearly desperate armed man.

Stay lucid and negotiate

“At that moment, there is a lot of adrenaline, but you have to keep your cool, stay lucid”confided this Monday, November 18, 2024, the day after the intervention, team leader Kévin (who does not give his last name for security reasons). He continues: “By negotiating we managed to extract [la femme qui était aussi dans le garage]within firing range.” She will then be supported psychologically. As for the madman, he will experience a more tragic outcome, ending up taking his own life, despite the police's attempts to dissuade him.

Did he really want to attack the woman who accompanied him? Some local residents refute this version, dismissing the possibility of a hostage-taking. “In reality, the lady wanted to stop the gentleman from shooting himself. She wanted to reason with him and he shouted to her: 'Leave, leave, anyway, I'm going to kill myself!'swears the building's concierge, who however did not witness the scene.

“He can shoot anyone.”

“In the heat of the moment, it is difficult to judge the intention of a gunman. At that moment, he can shoot anyone, at him, at the lady, at us. He represents a danger”refocuses team leader Kévin. An investigation was opened by the Nice public prosecutor's office.

If the motivations of the armed man remain to be established, the outcome of the tragedy could have been even more tragic. “By controlling the exchanges and gestures as best as possible, the municipal police officers showed great dedication. Their composure undoubtedly saved a life,” warmly congratulates Christian Estrosi, in front of the media, following an interview with the crew, at the town hall. Before announcing that he had asked “ to the Minister of the Interior to award them the medal of honor for an act of courage and dedication”.

Alongside these praises, the elected official did not fail to repeat his desire to strengthen the municipal police, by increasing the workforce to 600 agents in 2025, with the creation of 50 positions.