/s3/static.nrc.nl/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/29154119/291026VER_2037977300_2.jpg)
French counter-terrorism prosecutors have charged 39-year-old Kevin T. with murder and attempted murder with a terrorist intent following a shooting spree in the Parisian suburbs of Trappes and La Verrière, nrc.nl reported. The suspect admitted to investigators that he deliberately targeted Muslims and people of African and North African descent during the attack, which left one person dead and seven others injured.
Kevin T. Admits to Racist Motive and Chooses Trappes
The suspect opened fire from his car on random passersby using a machine gun, discharging 128 rounds over a twenty-minute period, according to details reported by nos.nl. The violence began on the morning of October 23 in Trappes and continued into neighboring La Verrière before police intercepted and arrested the gunman in the nearby town of Coignières. Antiterrorism prosecutor Olivier Christen stated during a press conference that Kevin T. confessed to selecting Trappes because he viewed the municipality as a sanctuary for islamists.
Victims of the shooting included 26-year-old Pengo Bossio Wangi, a French citizen of Congolese descent who was killed at the scene, alongside seven wounded individuals bnnvara.nl noted. Among the injured was an 11-year-old girl who was struck by eight bullets while wearing a headscarf. Her mother recounted in a public speech that the child survived by running to hide behind a vehicle. Three victims remain hospitalized, with one in critical condition.
Weapons Cache and Extremist Materials Found in Apartment
Investigators searching the suspect’s residence discovered a series of boobytraps, including gas cylinders and electrical wires rigged to a timing device, nrc.nl reported. Police also recovered a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, alongside a Koran and a Bible, according to nos.nl. Additional searches uncovered homemade stickers bearing slogans such as “Long live France, RN, proud to be French” and “100% French, long live France.” reported that the suspect ordered these stickers through Amazon after designing them himself, while prosecutors noted he claimed no formal affiliation with Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National party.
Preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation indicate that Kevin T. began planning the attack as early as September 3, when he purchased machine gun components and settled outstanding debts. Authorities also recovered a machine gun, tear gas grenades, and gloves in his vehicle upon arrest. Traces of cocaine, cannabis, and antipsychotics were found in his bloodstream, and he had a prior psychiatric hospitalization. Medical examiners temporarily halted his detention for evaluation before concluding he did not suffer from acute psychotic symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Paris Suburbs Investigation
What specific charges does Kevin T. face in French court?
French antiterrorism prosecutors are prosecuting the 39-year-old suspect for murder and attempted murder with a terrorist intent, alongside charges for illegal weapons possession. The case is being investigated under paragraph 1 of Article 421-1 of the French penal code.
How did authorities track the suspect’s preparations prior to the shooting?
Investigators established that the planning began months in advance, noting that the suspect purchased weapon parts in September, cleared his debts, deleted his social media accounts, and sold his laptop days before opening fire.
What is the current medical status of the surviving victims?
Seven people sustained injuries during the 20-minute shooting across Trappes and La Verrière, including an 11-year-old girl who was shot eight times. Three victims remain under hospital care, with one individual still listed in critical condition.