In Argos, the ballistic examination of the two police officers’ firearms is expected to determine who fired the fatal shot that killed the 20-year-old. Investigators believe the results will clarify which officer discharged the bullet that struck the young man in the head — the injury that proved fatal.
According to preliminary findings, more than 20 rounds were fired during the incident — a detail now central to the judicial investigation. Security camera footage captured at least 21 gunshots, though police recovered only 16 shell casings from the scene. Authorities are now focusing on identifying the specific bullet that caused the fatal wound.
The forensic ballistics report is considered pivotal. If the bullet shows signs of ricochet or deflection — such as striations consistent with impact against hard surfaces — it could support the officers’ claim that they fired into the air. Conversely, absence of such markings may point toward a direct, aimed shot.
Charges against the two officers — currently held in Korydallos Prison — are expected to be upgraded from manslaughter to intentional homicide, potentially with aggravating circumstances. They remain in pre-trial detention pending the outcome of the investigation.
New evidence has also emerged, including a CT scan of the victim that vividly illustrates the severity of his traumatic brain injury. Meanwhile, Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis publicly condemned the officers’ conduct in an interview with SKAI TV. ‘The Police’s mission is to arrest murderers — not to kill children,’ he stated. ‘Here, the officers acted improperly. They overreacted, and a human life was lost.’
Chrysochoidis emphasized that Greece’s legal framework governing use of service weapons is unambiguous. He noted that dozens of pursuits occur daily across the country — most ending without loss of life. ‘Where an operation doesn’t yield the desired result, human life must be protected unequivocally,’ he added. ‘Not only should this never have happened — it is, regrettably, an act that must now be examined by courts, criminal law, and disciplinary proceedings for breach of duty.’