Officer to stand trial for fatal 2025 shooting of Lorenz in Germany

A trial is set to commence against a 28-year-old police officer accused of fatally shooting 21-year-old Lorenz in the pedestrian zone of Oldenburg on Easter Sunday 2025. The Oldenburg Regional Court has accepted the indictment for negligent homicide, according to a court spokesperson. The officer allegedly shot Lorenz, who is Black, from behind multiple times, hitting him in the torso, hip, and head. Lorenz later died in the hospital. His death sparked widespread outrage and protests against police brutality and racism across Germany, with the "Justice for Lorenz" initiative identifying racism as the primary cause of his death.

The prosecution believes the officer acted under the mistaken belief that he was in a situation of self-defense. While acknowledging sufficient suspicion for negligent homicide, the court does not find grounds for charges of manslaughter or murder at this stage. The Oldenburg public prosecutor's office had filed charges in November, alleging the officer believed Lorenz was about to attack him with a knife. However, investigators stated Lorenz was only spraying pepper spray and did not use a knife. According to the indictment, Lorenz was attempting to flee when the shots were fired. The court noted that the exact sequence of events and the officer's perception will be clarified during the main trial.

Legal proceedings following fatal police shootings are rare in Germany. At least 16 people died during police operations nationwide last year, with automatic investigations launched in all cases. However, most investigations against officers are closed, and only an estimated two percent of cases result in a trial, according to experts. The specific date for the trial has not yet been announced.