First uttered by interposed screens during a “live Instagram”, the violence infiltrated reality during a virulent confrontation between teenagers. One of the youths was stabbed twice.
From the clash on social networks to the settling of accounts in real life, there is only one step. Friday, February 10, three teenagers aged 14 to 15 were arrested after a violent fight in front of the Victor Hugo college in Chartres, in Eure-et-Loir. They are suspected of having stabbed boys from a rival gang, to whom they had made an appointment, during a conflicting “live Instagram”, for a confrontation.
It all started with a photo, posted on this social network by a teenager, which “did not please” Stéphane *. In revenge, the latter decided to “change the girl’s Instagram password”, reports the public prosecutor of Chartres.
“There followed a ‘live Instagram’ between Stéphane and another young person, Laurent *, with their respective friends. During this live, death threats were allegedly made by Laurent against Stéphane”, continues Frederic Chevallier.
Beatings and death threats
Heated by this acrimonious exchange, Laurent makes an appointment with Stéphane in front of the Victor Hugo college for a face-to-face meeting with unbalanced forces: the first is accompanied by “a group of about fifteen people”, while the second shows up with “three friends”.
“Slaps and punches would have been carried by the whole group (…) who was carrying knives and threatened Stéphane to ‘plant’ him”, specifies the prosecutor.
Stéphane manages to escape the crowd but is finally caught by three teenagers. “Two stab wounds were carried, in the chest and in the back of Stéphane”, underlines Frédéric Chevallier. Injuries that do not endanger the life of the victim, the teenager receives two days of temporary incapacity for work, according to his medical certificate.
Unknown to the police
Quickly arrested and placed in police custody, the three main suspects admit their involvement. In front of the police, one of them admits having stabbed him twice without having intended to kill him, the second admits having threatened Stéphane by placing a blade against his cheek, while the third confesses to him having kicked and punched.
Aged 14 to 15, they are indicted for “attempted murder”, “aggravated violence” and “participation in an armed crowd”. Unknown to the police, they are placed under judicial control pending their possible referral to court.
* The first names have been changed to preserve the anonymity of the minors concerned.
