A Teenager Stabbed to Death in Paris: Two Minors in Custody, Investigation for Extortion Leading to Death

A 14-year-old teenager died on Saturday, January 25, following an assault the previous evening in Paris’s 14th arrondissement. As he was leaving football practice at the Jules Noël sports center, he was attacked by two minors, aged 16 and 17, who attempted to steal his mobile phone.

The Incident
On Friday evening, around 8 p.m., the attackers threatened the young boy, who refused to hand over his phone. One of the assailants then stabbed him violently in the shoulder. A friend of the victim attempted to provide first aid before emergency services arrived and transported him in critical condition. The teenager succumbed to his injuries the following day, around noon.

The Suspects Arrested
The two minors, residents of the 14th arrondissement, were quickly identified thanks to the victim’s friend’s testimony and were taken into custody Friday evening. Both were already known to the justice system. They had been involved in previous cases of theft and extortion with violence and were under judicial supervision with a court order prohibiting contact between them since October 2024.

A Tragedy That Shakes the Neighborhood
The victim, a 9th-grade student at Montaigne Middle School, was a member of the Jeunesse Sportive et Culturelle Pitray Olier club. The club expressed its “profound sorrow” in a statement. A support unit will be set up on Monday at the school to assist students and teachers during this difficult time.

Residents and officials in the 14th arrondissement have voiced concerns about a growing sense of insecurity. Carine Petit, mayor of the arrondissement, noted that warnings had been issued regarding a group of youths harassing and threatening visitors at the sports center. A local mother, interviewed by BFMTV, expressed her outrage at such violence: “We cannot accept that a child loses their life for a phone in 2025.”

An Investigation for a Crime Punishable by Life Imprisonment
The Paris prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation for “extortion leading to death,” a crime punishable by life imprisonment. The Third District Judicial Police has been assigned to the case.

Political Reactions
The tragedy has prompted widespread political reactions. The Minister of the Interior expressed being “horrified by this senseless violence” and criticized “a culture of impunity.” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo conveyed her “deep sorrow” over this tragedy, while several elected officials called for exemplary punishment for those responsible for this heinous act.