Shooting of Feliks Oleg

Template:Infobox news event The shooting of Feliks Oleg happened around 1:00 a.m. in September 21, NMR 2370, in the municipality of Kovdor, in Kovdor Prefecture, Txotai, Namor. Feliks Oleg, a 25 year-old Otekian man, was fatally shot by a police officer whose identity remains concealed as authorities began investigations on the incident.

Oleg was walking with a friend, Viktor Evgeni (who would later become a witness to the shooting), when a police officer called them over. Most eyewitness accounts say a quarrel broke out before Oleg turned away from the officer along with Evgeni. The officer then fired a number of shots at Oleg's back, instantly killing him. Evgeni ran off and left unhurt.

The Kovdor Police Department called the incident "unique," and vowed to investigate into the situation. The police said Oleg and the officer were involved in a "physical clash of some sort," suggesting that Oleg was trying to hurt the officer before getting shot. Yet Viktor Evgeni told Esquarian City internet newspaper Independent that the officer demanded to see Oleg's ID, but Oleg refused and did not resist the police, but turned away. The officer threatened many times to shoot Oleg, and when Oleg walked away he eventually did.

Almost all witness accounts acknowledge that Oleg was shot in the back, although it remains unclear how many shots were fired (Evgeni says the officer fired "eight times") and what happened to cause the shooting. Some allege that the shooting was racially motivated.

Feliks Oleg's death sparked unrest in many parts of Txotai, drawing renewed international attention to the region.

Accounts

Police

In the police's first reaction to the shooting, Kovdor Prefecture Police Chief Kai Long said that the shooting occurred out of a "physical clash of some sort." He did not reveal the identity of the police officer due to fears of violence. He said that there was a "good chance" the officer fired at Feliks Oleg because he saw danger and was trying to defend himself. "What we're hearing is that the officer fired because he felt like he was going to be attacked," said Kai. Kai noted that the police in Kovdor "rarely" perform "disciplinary violations." Kai finished by saying that the police is beginning investigations into the incident, urging everyone to "exercise restraint," a warning against possible inter-ethnic violence that could erupt from the shooting.

Viktor Evgeni

While the police said there was a struggle between the officer and Oleg, Oleg's friend, 24 year-old Viktor Evgeni, who accompanied Oleg when the shooting occurred, said Oleg did not resist the police in any violent way and was shot dead in that state.

Evgeni was walking with Oleg when the officer came; Evgeni said that the officer asked for the two Otekians to show their identification cards (presumably driver's licenses). Evgeni told Independent that he complied with the officer and showed his card, but Oleg refused despite the officer's repetitive threats. Evgeni acknowledged that a quarrel emerged between Oleg and the officer, before Oleg turned away, telling Evgeni to turn away also. Afterwards, the officer threatened to shoot Oleg dead, and when Oleg ignored the threats, the officer shot Oleg "around eight times" in the back, killing him instantly. Evgeni fled unhurt; it remains unknown if the officer even attempted targeting him.

"Oleg wasn't doing anything...I'm shocked, how the hell did they shoot my friend like this?" Evgeni was quoted in the Independent's report on the shooting.

Waste collector

A waste collector told authorities (under anonymity) that he heard "more than one shot" coming from the officer, and that before Oleg was shot he was slowly walking away from the officer, face pinned at him. The officer didn't fire until Oleg turned his back against him.

Tu Minghang

Tu Minghang was the only verifiable Kannei Namorese witness present at the shooting. Contrary to the accounts of Evgeni and the anonymous waste collector, he openly indicated that Oleg was apparently trying to hurt the officer before getting shot. Tu was reportedly drinking beer nearby when he saw Oleg and Evgeni face off with the officer. Prior to getting shot, Oleg dug his hands into his pockets "as if he was trying to look for a weapon."

Investigation

On September 22, it was reported that the Kovdor prefecture medical examiner is conducting an autopsy of Feliks Oleg's body. The prefecture autopsy is part of the prefecture police's investigation into the shooting incident. The family of Feliks Oleg requested that a medical examiner conduct an independent autopsy. Both autopsies and their findings will be released to the public in days.

Release of video showing Oleg singing Luziycan anthem

In September 24, Kovdor police released a video purportedly showing Feliks Oleg signing the Hymni Luziyca (national anthem of Luziyca) outside of his home. Police said that the video was found from Oleg's Facebook page, and they are "planning on analyzing more images and material from all channels available to get more information on Feliks Oleg to get a better image on what happened on the day he tragically died."

The police said that the purpose of releasing that specific video wasn't to accuse Oleg of wrongdoing, but suggest that "there is a chance" Oleg has "strong ties with Bethlehem, whether these ties be official or unofficial."

The video release was widely criticized by protesters and Otekian exiles, who said Namorese authorities were trying to use that video to ruin Oleg's reputation and image. "What kind of a police is this? What kind of a police accuses an innocent soul of having ties with Luziyca just for singing the Luziycan anthem? How is one apprehended for singing the anthem of another country? The Otekian people want justice now, real justice, not in the form of hastily-made, poorly-built accusations," a protester was quoted as saying on Twitter. Another protester took to social media accusing authorities of "trying to cover up their crimes."

The video is said to have escalated the unrest in many parts of Txotai.