Investigation into 2025 Deux-Sèvres Gendarme Shooting Closed Without Charges

The Niort prosecutor's office announced on March 10, 2026, that the investigation into the shooting death of Gabriel Bée, a 33-year-old man killed by a gendarme during a response to a noise complaint in Augé, Deux-Sèvres, has been closed without further action. Prosecutor Sophie Lacote stated that the Inspection Générale de la Gendarmerie Nationale (IGGN) confirmed Gabriel Bée posed a threat at the time, being armed with a telescopic baton. The gendarme fired two shots in quick succession, which were deemed necessary and proportionate to the threat faced.

Despite the closure, Bée's family strongly opposes the decision and plans to file a complaint. Isabelle Bée, the victim's mother, criticized the gendarmes, accusing them of not announcing their presence and approaching in a manner that instilled fear in her son, emphasizing that while her son may have made mistakes, it did not justify a fatal shooting. All available video evidence, including footage from Bée's phone, was reviewed during the investigation.

This closure concludes the official inquiry, but the family's ongoing legal challenge underscores continued tensions around the circumstances of the intervention and use of force by law enforcement in Deux-Sèvres.