[[File:Hommage_Nahel_lieu_deces_-_IMG_20230704_090039.jpg|thumb|Sign at Nelson Mandela Square: «Combien de Nahel n'ont pas été filmés ?!?» (How many Nahels have not been filmed?)]]According to the public prosecutor of [[Nanterre]], two [[Paris Police Prefecture]] motorcycle officers noticed a [[Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W177)|Mercedes-Benz A Class]] AMG with a Polish license plate driving at high speed in a bus lane, driven by a young-looking person at around 7:55{{nbsp}}am. The officers activated their warning signals (audible and visual) and indicated to the driver of the car, then stationary at a red traffic light, to stop. The vehicle started moving and ran the red light. The officers followed the car and alerted their superiors via radio. The car committed multiple traffic violations, endangering a pedestrian and a cyclist.
Due to traffic congestion, the vehicle was eventually forced to stop. The police officers got off their motorcycles, pointed their guns at the driver, and ordered him to turn off the engine. Instead, the vehicle started to pull away, and one of the police officers, 38-year-old Florian M., working his ninth consecutive day without a day off, fired a shot at the driver at point-blank range. The vehicle continued forward before crashing into the street sign marking the Nelson Mandela Square<ref>{{Cite web |last=Machecourt |first=Clément |date=28 June 2023 |title=Mort de Nahel : Malgré les appels au calme, Nanterre craint une nouvelle nuit de violences |url=https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/nanterre_92050/mort-de-nahel-malgre-les-appels-au-calme-nanterre-craint-une-nouvelle-nuit-de-violences_59789630.html |language=fr |website=actu.fr |quote=Le panneau « Place Nelson-Mandela » penché témoigne du choc de la voiture qui y a terminé sa course. |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724015820/https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/nanterre_92050/mort-de-nahel-malgre-les-appels-au-calme-nanterre-craint-une-nouvelle-nuit-de-violences_59789630.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Mort de Nahel M. : les premières constatations de l'enquête |trans-title=Death of Nahel M.: the first findings of the investigation |newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2023/07/05/mort-de-nahel-m-les-premieres-constatations-de-l-enquete_6180715_3224.html |last1=Albertini |last2=Bronner |first1=Antoine |first2=Luc |date=5 July 2023 |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720004025/https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2023/07/05/mort-de-nahel-m-les-premieres-constatations-de-l-enquete_6180715_3224.html |archive-date=20 July 2023 |access-date=19 July 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> at 8:19{{nbsp}}am. The rear passenger was arrested when he exited the vehicle. The front right passenger fled. Florian M. provided first aid to the driver, who was pronounced dead at 9:15{{nbsp}}am.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=29 June 2023 |date=29 June 2023 |language=fr |title=En direct : une information judiciaire pour homicide volontaire ouverte après la mort de Nahel |trans-title=Live: a judicial investigation for voluntary homicide opened after the death of Nahel |url=https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20230629-%F0%9F%94%B4-en-direct-la-conf%C3%A9rence-de-presse-du-procureur-de-nanterre-sur-la-mort-de-nahel |work=[[France 24]] |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629090936/https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20230629-%F0%9F%94%B4-en-direct-la-conf%C3%A9rence-de-presse-du-procureur-de-nanterre-sur-la-mort-de-nahel |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Esther |last=Paolini |access-date=29 June 2023 |date=29 June 2023 |language=fr |title=Mort de Nahel : le récit de la course-poursuite, minute par minute |trans-title=Death of Nahel: the story of the chase, minute by minute |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers/mort-de-nahel-le-recit-de-la-course-poursuite-minute-par-minute-20230629 |website=[[Le Figaro]] |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629115630/https://www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers/mort-de-nahel-le-recit-de-la-course-poursuite-minute-par-minute-20230629 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=30 June 2023 |date=29 June 2023 |work=[[BFM TV]] |title=Mort de Nahel: le procureur de Nanterre détaille le déroulé des faits |trans-title=Death of Nahel: the Nanterre prosecutor details the course of events |language=fr |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/mort-de-nahel-le-procureur-de-nanterre-detaille-le-deroule-des-faits_VN-202306290383.html |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630020443/https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/mort-de-nahel-le-procureur-de-nanterre-detaille-le-deroule-des-faits_VN-202306290383.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
Police records indicate that Merzouk was known for previous incidents in which he failed to comply with [[traffic stop]]s.<ref name="riots-shake-france"/> On the day of his death, it is alleged that he "disobeyed and committed several traffic offences, endangering the lives of a pedestrian and a cyclist", and refused to turn off the ignition. Police shot Merzouk when the Mercedes began moving forward after it had been stopped.<ref name="riots-shake-france" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=French police accused of killing boy: What do we know about the case? |first=Hannah |last=Thompson |url=https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/French-police-accused-of-killing-boy-What-do-we-know-about-the-case |access-date=5 July 2023 |date=28 June 2023 |newspaper=The Connexion |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628203324/http://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/French-police-accused-of-killing-boy-What-do-we-know-about-the-case |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=France to deploy 40,000 officers amid protests after fatal police shooting of teen driver |first=N'dea |last=Yancey-Bragg |date=29 June 2023 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/06/29/protests-continue-france-police-shooting-officers-deployed/70368157007/ |access-date=5 July 2023 |website=[[USA TODAY]] |language=en-US |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102624/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/06/29/protests-continue-france-police-shooting-officers-deployed/70368157007/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
