Controversy erupts as police officer who shot 14-year-old carrying toy gun in Munich is granted 'witness' status

In Munich, Germany, a 14-year-old boy reported to be carrying a "softair" pistol that resembled a real weapon was seriously wounded by police gunfire. Following the incident, the fact that the child is being treated as a "suspect" in the investigation while the police officer who fired the shots is currently classified as a "witness" has sparked public debate.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 18, at approximately 17:15 in the Schwabing district of Munich. Approximately 80 police officers were dispatched to the area following a report of a person seen carrying an "object resembling a weapon." The individual, who was described in the report as being approximately 20 years old, was later identified as a 14-year-old after being shot.

The boy, who was shot in the torso, was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery. In a statement to BR24, his mother said that her son is no longer in critical condition but will require multiple surgeries.

The police claim that the child pulled the object from his hand, made a motion as if cocking the mechanism of a pistol, and then raised the weapon and turned toward the officers. According to this account, a plainclothes police officer opened fire as a result.

The family, however, states that the incident unfolded differently. According to the mother, the child raised his hands and shouted to the police, "This is a toy, please don't shoot."

INVESTIGATION STATUSES SPARK DEBATE

Following the incident, an investigation was launched into the 14-year-old on the grounds that he may have threatened the police. At the time, it was noted that the seriously wounded child was in surgery at the hospital. Meanwhile, the police officer who shot the child is being treated as a "witness" rather than a "suspect" at the current stage of the investigation.

The prosecutor's office confirmed that there is some footage showing the scene up until shortly before the shots were fired. However, according to information reflected in the public domain, these recordings do not show the moment of the encounter with the police or the moment the shots were fired.

According to the Bavarian Police Tasks Act, the use of firearms is restricted to situations where other means of coercion have failed or are clearly ineffective. Potentially lethal fire against humans is only permitted if it is the only way to prevent an existing danger to life or risk of injury.

According to data from the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, state police used firearms against people in 79 incidents between 2016 and 2025. In these incidents, 52 people were wounded and 13 lost their lives. Only one incident in the records was classified as "unlawful use of a weapon."

In the investigation conducted under the supervision of the Munich I Public Prosecutor's Office, a decision on whether the police officer's use of a weapon was lawful will be made following preliminary examinations. It was reported that the 14-year-old has not yet been questioned by the prosecutor's office to provide a statement.