Kevin T Charged in 15-Minute Paris Suburb Shooting That Killed One

One person died and five others were wounded when a gunman opened fire from a vehicle in two towns near Paris on Friday. The violence lasted approximately 15 minutes, with the attacker targeting individuals of apparent migrant origin in Trappes and the neighboring town of La Verrière.

French President Emmanuel Macron labeled the incident a racist terrorist attack during a visit to the scene. He stated that the shooting represented a turning point for the Republic and marked the first random racial killing of its kind in French history. Macron urged the public not to give an inch against ideologies taking root, noting that victims were singled out based on skin color or religion.

The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office, known as PNAT, classified the case as murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise. Investigators are also examining charges related to conspiracy and the possession of a Category A weapon, a designation that covers military-grade arms and firearms capable of burst fire. French media identified the suspect as Kevin T, a 39-year-old man with four prior convictions that had been automatically expunged from his record.

Police reported that the suspect was known to local authorities but not to national intelligence services. He was not listed as a serious threat to French security, according to a statement to BFMTV. A member of his immediate family circle was also taken into custody on Friday. Witnesses described the suspect driving a grey Renault Clio through several neighborhoods before being detained on the main road in La Verrière.

Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman fired randomly with the intent to cause carnage. People were targeted at a petrol station, a medical centre, and a playground in Trappes. A local police chief told BFMTV that the suspect used an older-style semi-automatic weapon. Le Parisien reported that the firearm dated back to World War Two.

Three of the wounded remain in serious condition. The mother of a 12-year-old girl, who sustained eight gunshot wounds, told broadcaster RTL that her daughter required surgery. The mother said her daughter wore a headscarf and was born in Trappes. The prosecutor's office has not yet established the precise motive for the attack.