Mechanic, 22, Killed in Suspected Drug-Related Shooting in Besançon

Houcine’s relatives are unanimous: the killers must have mistaken the target. The events took place around 9:30 p.m. in the Planoise district, in the commune of Besançon. According to L’Est Républicain, the scene took place near the historic city center.

Adam, one of the deceased’s best friends, confides that Houcine had taken the wheel of the blue Renault Mégane of one of his friends, H. K., to go to his home in Planoise. The friend and another individual were seated in the passenger seats. The car will be followed from afar, due to the presence of CRS, from its departure from the district to the city center, by a red vehicle. A chase ensues.

They had called the police for help. It was in vain. Arrived on Avenue Siffert, Houcine loses control of the Mégane and crashes into a pole. The pursuers open fire. 15 bullet impacts were found on the vehicle. Hit by a bullet in the chest, and another in the head, the young mechanic dies. H. K., who would be the number one target, is wounded in the leg. The third one fled before the arrival of the police.

"He was not the one who was targeted," says Adam, who specifies that "Houcine was not in trouble; he had no enemies." This is not the case for H.K. According to a source close to the case, this young man is involved in drug cases. Moreover, his own brother is currently in detention for similar acts.