Three days after the death of a 17-year-old from Landes, “the investigation continues under the classification of murder,” informs the public prosecutor of Dax. In his press release issued on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Benoît Fontaine explains this decision by stating that “the prior conflict between the perpetrator and the victim suggests a premeditated act.”
The alleged perpetrator of the stabbing reportedly invited his victim to resolve a dispute through violence, stemming from the theft of a cap. The two individuals met on Rue Sainte-Ursule, away from Fontaine-Chaude and the cafes where the final of PSG in the Champions League was being broadcast.
This tragic meeting follows at least two other encounters during the previous week, as reported by “Sud Ouest” on Monday. Initially, the victim sought to recover his stolen cap in one of Dax’s popular neighborhoods frequented by the suspect. He then saw the latter again on a beach in Hossegor.
“Multiple Stab Wounds”
In the details provided by the public prosecutor on Monday, no information is given about the circumstances that led the two teenagers to the center of Dax on the evening of Saturday, May 31. However, Benoît Fontaine does indicate that “forensic investigations confirm that the victim’s death was caused by multiple stab wounds to the thoracic region.”
Indicating the brutality of this murder, the perpetrator remains actively pursued by investigators from the Inter-departmental Judicial Police Service (SIPJ) based in Bayonne. Having fled immediately after the crime was committed, this individual was identified as early as Sunday and has been the subject of a search warrant since then.
“The prior conflict between the perpetrator and the victim suggests a premeditated act.”
The weapon used has not yet been discovered. There are speculations that the blade may have been discarded in one of the recycling points on Place de la Course. A source close to the investigation reveals that the collection of waste, typically carried out on Monday mornings by Grand Dax services, did not occur.
“Several Accomplices”
In the chaos that followed the crime, where a more extensive brawl erupted, it’s possible that a third party concealed the knife, as suggested by the Dax public prosecutor, who mentioned “several potential accomplices” in his statement on Monday, June 2.
Some of them might have aided the main suspect in his escape and supported his flight from justice. According to our information, the suspect is a teenager born on March 6, 2009, whose last known address is his mother’s apartment in Soustons.
His face and nickname have been extensively circulated on social media, leading to criticism from the public prosecutor: “The photograph of an individual widely disseminated on social networks and presented as the perpetrator has not yet been sourced or authenticated by investigators.”
This tragic incident has raised many questions within the community, emphasizing the urgency for law enforcement to ensure public safety. The unveiling of the motives behind such violence unveils a deeper conversation about youth conflict and the ramifications of social media in influencing perceptions of guilt and innocence. The portrayal of teenagers as either victims or aggressors brings forward the pressing need for community intervention and dialogue to address issues that can escalate into brutality. As this case proceeds, the families, witnesses, and broader community of Dax remain in a state of mourning, seeking justice for a life cut short too soon and answers to the disturbing circumstances surrounding this event.