Police officer shoots at car injuring backseat passenger, after the car sped away during a stop check

A 19-year-old man was shot by a police officer after the driver of a vehicle failed to comply with a police signal to stop for a check in the city of Pleven.

The young man was admitted to hospital for treatment and the law enforcement officer was suspended from duty, the District Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Pleven said.

In the early hours on June 6, around 2.30, on “Georgi Kochev” boulevard in Pleven, police officers signalled a car to stop. When the police officers approached the car to check it, the driver drove off at high speed and left the scene.

A police officer fired shots, resulting in an injury to a back seat passenger. The driver of the vehicle sought medical help and the victim, a 19-year-old man, was admitted to hospital for treatment.

The police officer who shot the 19-year-old boy faces between 2 and 10 years in prison, the district Prosecutor's office in Pleven said on June 7. The police officer is an employee of the Criminal Police and has not been detained because he has cooperated with the investigators and, according to them, is in no danger of absconding. The young man was admitted to hospital with a life-threatening condition, underwent surgery and is his life is now out of danger.

In the morning, families and friends of the young people whose car was shot at, gathered at a protest outside the hospital demanding transparency and fair punishments.

Caretaker Minister of Interior, Kalin Stoyanov, described the reaction of the police officer as incompetent, unprofessional and inadequate. The minister said that an investigation was underway and the statements from both sides were being clarified. He said he had spoken to the boy's father and assured him that those involved will bear their responsibilities.

"In my opinion and that of the team of people I work with here, this is a completely incompetent, inadequate and unprofessional response by police officers. I spoke to the father of the injured boy. I told him that we in no way tolerate the behaviour of the police officers. Those involved will bear their responsibilities," said Kalin Stoyanov, caretaker Minister of Interior.