sourcing was horrible← Previous revisionRevision as of 19:48, 24 October 2026 Line 35: Line 35: }} }} The '''killing of Eric Torell''' was the fatal police shooting of a 20-year-old man with [[Down syndrome]] and [[autism spectrum disorder]] in the Vasastan district of [[Stockholm]], Sweden, on 2 August 2018. Torell was carrying a [[toy gun]] when he was shot by police officers responding to reports of an armed man. The incident prompted widespread public debate in Sweden about [[police use of force]]. The '''killing of Eric Torell''' was the fatal police shooting of a 20-year-old man with [[Down syndrome]] and [[autism spectrum disorder]] in the Vasastan district of [[Stockholm]], Sweden, on 2 August 2018. Torell was carrying a [[toy gun]] when he was shot by police officers responding to reports of an armed man. The incident prompted widespread public debate in Sweden about [[police use of force]].{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45050933 |title=Swedish police kill man with Down's syndrome carrying toy gun |work=BBC News |date=2 August 2018 |access-date=24 October 2026}}{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-fbfa3c3e6450443588ccaa30e1da3dc1 |title=Swedish police say several officers fired on disabled man |work=Associated Press |date=3 August 2018 |access-date=24 October 2026}} == Background == == Background == Eric Torell was a 20-year-old man living in Stockholm who had Down syndrome and autism. According to his family, he had [[Nonverbal autism|limited verbal communication abilities]] and functioned cognitively at the level of a young child.{{cite news |title=Swedish police kill man with Down's syndrome carrying toy gun |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45050933|work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=2 August 2018 |language=en}} Eric Torell was a 20-year-old man living in Stockholm who had Down syndrome and autism. According to his family, he had limited verbal communication abilities and functioned cognitively at the level of a young child.{{cite news |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20191004/three-police-officers-cleared-over-fatal-shooting-of-man-with-down-syndrome |title=Three police officers cleared over fatal shooting of man with Down Syndrome |work=The Local Sweden |date=4 October 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}}{{cite news |url=https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/7291788 |title=Dödsskjutningen av Eric Torell – detta har hänt |work=Sveriges Radio |date=3 September 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}} == Shooting == == Shooting == On the night of 1–2 August 2018, Torell left his father's apartment carrying a plastic toy gun. Shortly afterward, police received emergency calls reporting a man in the area who was believed to be armed with a real [[firearm]].{{cite news |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/stockholm/20-aring-skots-till-dods-av-polis-detta-har-hant |title=20-åring sköts till döds av polis |work=SVT Nyheter |date=24 August 2018 |access-date=24 October 2026}} In the early hours of 2 August 2018, three police officers encountered Torell in a residential courtyard in Vasastan. Officers later stated that they believed the object he was holding was a real gun and that he did not comply with shouted commands to stop.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/sweden-charges-three-police-over-fatal-shooting-of-downs-syndrome-man-idUSKCN1RO1FV/ |title=Sweden charges three police over fatal shooting of Down's syndrome man |work=Reuters |date=12 April 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}} The officers opened fire, discharging a total of 25 shots. Torell was hit by several bullets, including shots to the back, and died at the scene from his injuries.{{cite news |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/9v0Eww/poliser-frias-efter-dodsskjutningen-av-eric-torell |title=Poliserna frias efter dödsskjutningen av Eric Torell |work=Aftonbladet |date=3 October 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}}{{cite news |url=https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/7291788 |title=Dödsskjutningen av Eric Torell – detta har hänt |work=Sveriges Radio |date=3 September 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}} On the night of 1–2 August 2018, Torell left his father’s apartment carrying a plastic toy gun. Shortly afterward, police received emergency calls reporting a man in the area who was believed to be armed with a real [[firearm]].{{cite news |title=Swedish police probed after disabled man shot |url=https://www.dw.com/en/swedish-police-probed-after-shooting-of-down-syndrome-man/a-44943249 |work=Deutsche Welle |publisher=DW |date=3 August 2018 |language=en}} In the early hours of 2 August 2018, three police officers encountered Torell in a residential courtyard in Vasastan. Officers later stated that they believed the object he was holding was a real gun and that he did not comply with shouted commands to stop.{{cite news |title=Trial starts in case of fatal police shooting of man with Down Syndrome |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190902/trial-starts-in-case-of-fatal-police-shooting-of-man-with-down-syndrome |work=The Local |publisher=The Local Europe AB |author=TT/The Local |date=2 September 2019 |language=en}} The officers opened fire, discharging a total of 25 shots. Torell was hit by several bullets, including shots to the back, and died at the scene from his injuries.{{cite news |title=Swedish police charged over fatal shooting of Down’s syndrome man |work=Euronews |date=13 April 2019 |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/13/swedish-police-charged-over-fatal-shooting-of-down-s-syndrome-man}} == Investigation == == Investigation == The shooting was investigated by Sweden’s Special Prosecution Office for cases involving police officers. The investigation examined whether the use of lethal force was justified and whether police procedures had been followed correctly.{{cite news |title=Sweden investigates police killing of Down syndrome man |work=Reuters |date=3 August 2018 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sweden-police-shooting-investigation-idUSKBN1KO2K6}} The shooting was investigated by Sweden's Special Prosecution Office for cases involving police officers. The investigation examined whether the use of lethal force was justified and whether police procedures had been followed correctly.{{cite news |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/stockholm/detta-har-hant-funktionsnedsatte-eric-torell-skots-till-dods-av-polis |title=Detta har hänt: Funktionsnedsatte Eric Torell sköts till döds av polis |work=SVT Nyheter |date=25 March 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}} In April 2019, three police officers were formally charged. One officer was charged with involuntary manslaughter, while the other two were charged with misconduct. Prosecutors argued that although officers may initially have believed Torell posed a threat, they should have stopped firing once he was no longer facing them.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47913541 |title=Swedish police charged over fatal shooting of man with Down's syndrome |work=BBC News |date=12 April 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}}{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/sweden-charges-three-police-over-fatal-shooting-of-downs-syndrome-man-idUSKCN1RO1G5/ |title=Sweden charges three police over fatal shooting of Down's syndrome man |work=Reuters |date=12 April 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}} In April 2019, three police officers were formally charged. One officer was charged with involuntary manslaughter, while the other two were charged with misconduct. Prosecutors argued that although officers may initially have believed Torell posed a threat, they should have stopped firing once he was no longer facing them.{{cite news |title=Three Swedish police charged over death of Eric Torell |work=BBC News |date=12 April 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47900953}} == Trial == == Trial == The trial began in September 2019 at the [[Stockholm District Court]]. All three officers pleaded not guilty, stating that they believed their lives were in danger and that the situation unfolded rapidly.{{cite news |title=Trial begins over fatal police shooting of man with Down's syndrome |work=Reuters |date=4 September 2019 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sweden-police-trial-idUSKCN1VP0Y7}} The trial began in September 2019 at the [[Stockholm District Court]]. All three officers pleaded not guilty, stating that they believed their lives were in danger and that the situation unfolded rapidly.{{cite news |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/kJbgvj/dodsskjutningen-av-eric-torell-i-ratten |title=Dödsskjutningen av Eric Torell i rätten |work=Aftonbladet |date=2 September 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}} On 3 October 2019, the Stockholm District Court [[Acquittal|acquitted]] all three officers of all charges. The court ruled that prosecutors had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that the officers' actions were criminal under the circumstances.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-8fddba23b42043168606c22486b30986 |title=Sweden acquits officers in disabled man's fatal shooting |work=Associated Press |date=3 October 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}}{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/swedish-court-clears-three-policemen-of-killing-man-with-downs-syndrome-idUSKBN1WI1PV/ |title=Swedish court clears three policemen of killing man with Down's syndrome |work=Reuters |date=3 October 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}}{{cite news |url=https://www.dagensjuridik.se/nyheter/poliserna-som-skot-eric-torell-frias-av-tingsratten/ |title=Poliserna som sköt Eric Torell frias av tingsrätten |work=Dagens Juridik |date=3 October 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}} On 3 October 2019, the Stockholm District Court [[Acquittal|acquitted]] all three officers of all charges. The court ruled that prosecutors had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that the officers’ actions were criminal under the circumstances.{{cite news |title=Swedish court clears police over shooting of man with Down’s syndrome |work=BBC News |date=3 October 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49929819}} == Aftermath == == Aftermath == Following the acquittal of the police officers, the case intensified public debate in Sweden about police readiness to use lethal force, particularly amid rising [[gang violence]]. Torell’s family called for changes in police responses to emergencies involving people with developmental disabilities. Torell’s mother said she accepted the verdict but urged reforms to better protect vulnerable individuals. The case also highlighted how rarely Swedish police are convicted for on-duty shootings, and prosecutors reserved the right to appeal the ruling.{{cite news |last=Crouch |first=David |title=Swedish court acquits police who killed man with Down’s syndrome |work=The Guardian |date=3 October 2019 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/03/swedish-court-acquits-police-who-killed-man-with-downs-syndrome}} Following the acquittal of the police officers, the case intensified public debate in Sweden about police readiness to use lethal force, particularly amid rising [[gang violence]]. Torell's family called for changes in police responses to emergencies involving people with developmental disabilities. Torell's mother said she accepted the verdict but urged reforms to better protect vulnerable individuals. The case also highlighted how rarely Swedish police are convicted for on-duty shootings.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/03/eric-torell-swedish-court-acquits-police-who-killed-man-with-downs-syndrome |title=Swedish court acquits police who killed man with Down's syndrome |work=The Guardian |date=3 October 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20191004/three-police-officers-cleared-over-fatal-shooting-of-man-with-down-syndrome |title=Three police officers cleared over fatal shooting of man with Down Syndrome |work=The Local Sweden |date=4 October 2019 |access-date=24 October 2026}} == See also == == See also ==