Overview

• The trial of a 27-year-old Düsseldorf police officer began on May 15, 2025, at the Düsseldorf Regional Court, with charges of dangerous bodily harm in office.
• The officer testified that he felt threatened after the suspect allegedly displayed a metallic object, prompting Taser deployment and subsequent gunfire when the Taser was ineffective.
• Prosecutors argue there was no legal basis for the shooting, emphasizing that no knife was found on the unarmed 32-year-old suspect after the incident.
• The suspect, who was shot in the back through his backpack while attempting to flee, survived after an emergency operation.
• The trial highlights broader concerns over police use-of-force in North Rhine-Westphalia, where firearm use by officers reached a decades-long high in 2024.