The authorities suspect that the young man and his mother were involved in the stabbing death of the teenager on Saturday

A confrontation broke out in the late afternoon of Saturday 27 April in Châteauroux, resulting in the death of the teenager Matisse during an altercation. The main suspect, a 15-year-old boy carrying a knife, was arrested and taken into custody, along with his mother, who was suspected of involvement in the violence. On Monday evening, the Bourges public prosecutor’s office announced that the young man had been charged with ‘murder’, and was subsequently taken into custody. His mother, aged 37, was charged with ‘deliberate violence’ and placed under judicial supervision. Here is a summary of the events to date.

The incident occurred in a residential area of Châteauroux, the Saint-Denis neighbourhood, at around 6pm. The area, described as ‘residential and traditional’ by the mayor, was the scene of an altercation between two 15-year-old teenagers, involving the use of a knife, according to the public prosecutor. Matisse, the son of a local restaurant owner, was hit several times in the chest and back, as his family told France 3. The exact circumstances of the altercation remain unclear at this stage, according to the prosecutor.

Witnesses to the incident included Marie-Mathilde, who described hearing screams and seeing a young man dressed in black assault Matisse. Another neighbour reported that the suspect’s mother was hitting the victim while he was on the ground. Despite attempts to help, Matisse died as a result of his injuries, which have been confirmed by the Châteauroux public prosecutor’s office. An investigation into culpable homicide has been opened, with an autopsy ordered by the authorities.

The main suspect, aged 15, was apprehended two hours after the incident. Although he had no previous convictions, he was involved in two criminal cases, one of which was for aggravated robbery with violence. His mother, aged 37, who has no previous criminal record, was also taken into custody because of her alleged involvement in the violence on 27 April, according to witness statements.

It is important to note that the suspect’s family is regularly living in France, despite certain political reactions, and that they were being monitored by the social services, as the mayor of Châteauroux pointed out.