At the Cherapont campsite in Gouvy, a 40-year-old man from Liège caused a disturbance among campers while visiting his mother. Witnesses reported that he was drunk and shouting as he wandered between the caravans, brandishing two knives. Fearing an attack, one camper called the police on 101.
Two officers from the Famenne Ardenne police zone arrived on the scene at around 6 p.m. The man reportedly rushed towards them suddenly with the knives, prompting one of the officers to open fire and fatally wound him. The manager of the campsite and the mayor of Gouvy both offered statements expressing shock and sadness at the incident.
Following the shooting, a judicial investigation has been opened, and experts have been appointed to clarify the circumstances that led to the loss of life. The two police officers involved in the incident will also be questioned. As the incident involves police officers, it is the responsibility of Committee P to investigate further.
Late Monday afternoon, at the Cherapont campsite (Gouvy), a 40-year-old man from Liège was visiting his mother when he disturbed the tranquility of the campers. In a drunken state, he wandered between the caravans, shouting. The man exhibited two knives and appeared threatening. Campers thought he was going to attack residents. One of them called 101 for the police to intervene.
Around 6 p.m., two police officers from the intervention team of the Famenne Ardenne police zone went to the scene. According to our information, as soon as he saw the combi, the individual rushed to attack the police. He would then have rushed in their direction brandishing the knives. One of the officers fired his handgun. The Liégeois died of his injuries.
”Police, contacted via a 101 call, attended the Cherapont campsite in the early eveningconfirms Etienne Donnay, King’s Prosecutor at the Luxembourg Public Prosecutor’s Office A 40-year-old man from Liège was walking around drunk and making suicidal remarks. When the police approached him, they found that he was carrying two knives. He did not respond to the orders and made a sudden movement towards the police. One of them then opened fire.”
The public prosecutor specifies that a judicial investigation has been opened. Experts have been appointed to clarify the circumstances in which the forties lost his life. The two police officers will be heard. The investigation was taken over by the Judicial Police. This case, in which police officers are involved, is the responsibility of Committee P.
The manager of the Lac de Cherapont campsite is in shock. “I was not there when the facts happened he indicates. I did not witness the scene before the police arrived, and I do not know who notified the police. I also did not attend the intervention of the two policemen. When I returned, a combi was in front of the building and the police told me what had happened. This is the first time something like this has happened on my property. I knew this Liégeois by sight. Personally, I’ve never had a problem with it. His mother lives in a caravan but is not domiciled in Cherapont.”
The mayor of Gouvy, Véronique Léonard, underlines, for her part, that she was warned, around 7:15 p.m. but did not go there. “The police told me that a drunken man had acted aggressively. One of the police officers fired and that person died,” she concludes.
The tragedy at the Cherapont campsite serves as a reminder of the danger that can arise when alcohol and weapons are involved. The incident has prompted a judicial investigation, and the two police officers involved will be required to provide their account of events. As we wait for these details to unfold, our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the deceased. Campsite manager and mayor of Gouvy have expressed their shock and sadness about the event. We hope that everyone involved can find peace in the wake of this terrible incident.