A 40-year-old police officer who shot a man with an ax in Scheveningen more than two years ago has been released by the court from all legal proceedings. The man suffered a spinal cord injury and became permanently disabled. The judge ruled that the officer was allowed to shoot because the axeman displayed threatening behavior.
“He had already hit one person with the axe, did not respond to orders to drop the axe, ignored a warning blow and came waving the ax at the officers,” the judge summed up. Consequently, according to the court, it can only be concluded that the officer used his service weapon in accordance with the applicable rules.
The prosecutor found that the officer had misjudged the situation and requested a two-month suspended prison sentence.
The incident took place on May 28, 2020. Police received a report of a man swinging an ax in Neptunusstraat. He had injured two people, hit doors with an ax and displayed confused behavior. There was also an aggressive dog running free.
The man had been called several times to drop his weapon, but he didn’t. Not even after a warning shot. Several officers drew their pistols as they approached the man. The shooting officer allegedly aimed for the man’s abdomen, but hit him in the chest.
The Axeman was charged with two counts of attempted murder, threat and destruction.
