A tragedy unfolded in Argos, in the Peloponnese region of Greece, when a 20-year-old man died from injuries sustained during a violent police chase. He passed away early Sunday morning (12 July 2026) at Athens’ KAT Hospital, where he had been admitted intubated in the intensive care unit. Despite medical efforts, his body failed to recover.
Charges Upgraded to Murder
Two police officers involved in the incident were remanded in custody yesterday following lengthy interrogations. They now face charges of intentional homicide with possible malice aforethought — an upgrade from the initial charge of attempted murder with possible intent, following the young man’s death.
Additional charges include violations of firearms legislation related to the shots fired, which ultimately caused the driver’s fatal injuries. Authorities recovered 13 spent shell casings at the scene during their forensic examination.
Weapon Claims Disputed
Police stated the young man was in possession of an air-powered firearm, seized at the scene and now awaiting ballistic analysis by the Hellenic Police’s Forensic Research Directorate. That examination is expected to determine whether officers’ shots were warning rounds or direct fire.
However, the victim’s mother’s lawyer, speaking exclusively to newsit.gr, contested key aspects of the official account. She clarified that the so-called ‘replica weapon’ was, in fact, a toy gun — and stressed it bore no relevance to the criminal charges under review.
“What matters is the moment he was shot,” she said. “At that exact time, he was holding neither the replica nor any other weapon. He was wearing only swimwear, as confirmed by witnesses.”
A Quiet Life Shattered
The lawyer described the victim as functional, non-disruptive, and well-adjusted. His mother, Natalia, had recently moved with him from Kallithea in Athens to Argolis to begin a new, quieter life. Just two days after settling into the area, the incident occurred.
Natalia is reportedly devastated — unable to speak or process what happened. She attended a hearing with her lawyer on Friday before the investigating magistrate, providing testimony regarding her son’s health condition prior to the incident. She has made no public statements.
“The accused will be summoned again for questioning regarding the upgraded charge,” the lawyer added. “This is a procedural requirement under Greek criminal law. Their previous statements remain unchanged — so we don’t expect any new substantive claims.”