The shooting of 49-year-old Turkish national Ertekin Özkan by German police, in December 2023 has prompted a strong reaction from the deceased's family, who demand accountability and justice for the incident.
Ertekin Özkan's mother, lamented that the police intentionally shot her son. "They ignored my son's pleas. They purposefully took the life of my son, a father of three," she said. "Had they allowed me to be with my child, I could have saved him. My child did not harm anyone", she added.
She stated: “I've dedicated 50 years of my life to Germany. They killed my child in broad daylight. We served Germany for years. This level of injustice and disbelief is unimaginable."
Ertekin's sister, described her brother's death as an execution by the German police.
Expressing disbelief, she questioned the use of four bullets against her brother and stated: “Four unnecessary bullets. Why four? There was no justification for any shooting. I perceive this as an execution. It's akin to murder”. She added: “I pleaded, please let me bid farewell to my brother.' Unfortunately, they didn't allow me and my brother died after.”
The remains of Ertekin Özkan are slated for burial in the Muslim cemetery in Mannheim once autopsy procedures conclude.
Criticism arose on social media over the police's use of lethal force, with comments contending that officers could have arrest Özkan with non-lethal means instead of resorting to fatal gunfire.
Before the case of Özkan, two other fatalities resulted from Mannheim police interventions had happened on May 2 and 10, 2022.