Nearly five years ago, the city of Nantes was rocked by a tragedy that occurred during the annual Music Festival. Steve Maia Caniço, a 24-year-old youth worker, went missing following a police crackdown aimed at dispersing a celebration along the Loire River banks. After more than a month of searching, the community’s worst fears were confirmed when his body was discovered in the river on July 29th.
Recent developments have emerged from exhaustive inquiries, as announced by the Rennes public prosecutor. While Johan Mougenot, the former chief of staff to the prefect of Loire-Atlantique, was cleared of charges, Divisional Commissioner Grégoire Chassaing is facing legal repercussions. He has been summoned to the criminal court on charges of involuntary homicide.
On that fateful night, the measures deployed to disperse the crowd were criticized for being excessive. The use of tear gas grenades, in particular, was a method that the prosecutor deemed a serious fault, possibly contributing to the fatal fall of Steve Maia Caniço.
The judicial process concluded that alternative approaches could have been considered by the commissioner and the officers under his command, including a possible strategy of withdrawal which might have prevented the tragedy.
The events surrounding this case in Loire-Atlantique, Nantes, underscore the need for utmost discernment in the conduct of police interventions during large public gatherings such as the Music Festival. This incident, marked by mourning, is etched in the memory of the people of Nantes and remains at the forefront of discussions about security and the management of festive spaces.
The case continues to provoke reactions, and the upcoming decision of the court is awaited with keen interest to shed light on the responsibilities tied to that tragic night on the Île de Nantes.
