The official police statement is so far the only source of information about the incident. According to the Hellenic Police version, the 20-year-old driver ignored officers’ stop signals and sped away in an attempt to escape.
Police said the young man attempted to run over officers who were outside their vehicles and rammed service vehicles. A chase followed, during which, according to the official statement, the man acted in a particularly dangerous manner.
Two officers allegedly used their service weapons, shooting him in the head and seriously injuring him.
The injured man is being treated at Thriasio Hospital in critical condition, while an investigation is under way to determine whether the shot that struck him was a warning shot, a ricochet or a direct shot by one of the officers. The two officers were arrested and an investigation is under way, while disciplinary proceedings have also been ordered against them.
The police statement
‘In the early hours of today, 8 July 2026, police officers from the Argolida Crime Prevention and Suppression Team (OPKE) attempted to carry out a check on the driver of a vehicle in an area of Argos.
‘The driver did not comply with the officers’ stop signals, accelerated in order to evade the check and attempted to run over officers who were outside their service vehicles, as well as ramming service vehicles during his escape. A pursuit followed, during which he acted in a particularly dangerous manner.
‘The vehicle was eventually blocked in by patrol cars, which it rammed. The driver then abandoned the vehicle on foot and attempted to escape by climbing a fence. Two police officers used their service weapons, resulting in the man being injured. An EKAB ambulance was immediately called to the scene and transferred him to hospital, after which he was transferred to a hospital in Attica, where he is being treated.
‘Along his escape route, near the point where police had initially signalled him to stop, an air pistol was found and seized. It will be sent to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for laboratory examination.
‘The competent prosecutor was immediately informed of the incident. Under the fast-track procedure, the two police officers involved were arrested and a case file was opened against them for violation of weapons legislation and grievous bodily harm. At the same time, the prescribed disciplinary procedure has been initiated to investigate the exact circumstances under which the incident took place.
‘The preliminary investigation is being carried out by the Nafplio Crime Investigation and Prosecution Department, with the assistance of the DAOE.’
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