A police officer shot dead a young man during a confrontation that erupted when the officer intervened to break up a street fight in Al Agouza neighborhood in Cairo Sunday, reported the Egyptian Gazette newspaper.
The 20-year-old police officer, identified only by his first name, Mohammed, was passing the Al Tawfekiya Sporting Club when he saw a group of youths chasing several other young men. The two groups clashed and the police officer crossed the street to break up the fight.
Mohammed demanded that the youths stop fighting and show him their IDs.
One group ran off en masse, but the others turned on the lone police officer.
Their gang leader, later identified as Ayman, a 20-year-old university student, threatened the police officer, said the paper, adding that the other youths taunted him and tried to outflank him.
Mohammed once again demanded to see ID, pulling out his licensed firearm to show that he was serious.
Ayman backed off for a second, but surprised everyone by lunging at the police officer. Mohammed fired the gun in self-defense, according to the report.
The youth collapsed and died instantly.
A probe has been launched into the incident, and police are looking for the other gang members, said the paper – Albawaba.com
