Dervallières district in Nantes, January 13, 2021 -
J. Urbach / 20 Minutes
The boy injured Monday night in a shooting did not survive his injuries.
A new episode of violence which is part of the daily life of the inhabitants of the Dervallières district, subject to drug trafficking.
A group of teenagers comes out of the Aldi supermarket while two women wait in the parking lot, in front of the fruit stall.
This Wednesday morning, there is no crowd but life has resumed its course on the Place des Dervallières.
However, some residents say they prefer to bypass this central location in this popular district to the west of Nantes.
"I avoid going there, I do not want to meet young people who are trafficking, says Nadine, 60 years old.
We hear detonations, always full of stories, and I want my safety.
The situation is deteriorating from year to year, look at what has happened in recent days ... "
Monday evening, a few meters away, a new shooting broke out at the foot of the buildings on rue Edmond-Bertreux.
In still unclear circumstances, two people were injured, including a 15-year-old boy very seriously, in the eye and in the carotid artery.
Transported to Nantes University Hospital in critical condition, this young man who had lived in the neighborhood with his family for about two years finally died on Wednesday.
Squatted stairwell
At the beginning of January, shots had already sounded at this address, without causing injuries, a few weeks after the police dismantled a large point of deal, seizing weapons and more than 20,000 euros in cash.
But the traffic had apparently resumed.
At the end of 2019, a young man of 22 years had already died in a settling of accounts in front of the entrance of a building on the rue Nicolas-Poussin, 500m from the drama of Monday.
All the inhabitants met, sometimes resigned, often worried, make the link between violence and drugs, which interfere in their daily life to the point of making it unlivable.
"The other day, my daughter came to visit me and a young man verbally assaulted her because he had parked his car too close to the entrance, according to him," says Nadine.
I've lived here for 32 years, we've always done it like this and now we have to change!
"For four years, my stairwell was squatted by dealers, I can tell you that it rots life, continues Hélène, 50 years old.
Incessant comings and goings, deterioration, and complaints to social landlords, without anyone moving!
"
Alas, this woman ended up moving, a few buildings away.
"But I am attached to Dervallières, I will not leave my neighborhood!"
Even if I ask my son not to hang around the "Building" [the imposing bar of purple buildings] "
The police arrive "once the damage is done"
Tuesday evening, the authorities met urgently.
A 28 million euro action and rehabilitation plan was allocated to this district of 5,000 inhabitants a few years ago, but it is clear that the situation is still struggling to change.
The district assistant at Nantes town hall, Ali Rebouh, says he understands the impatience of the inhabitants.
“We will have to roll up our sleeves for these families, some of whom are in distress, at the end of their rope,” he told
20 Minutes
.
First of all, some halls must be redesigned to limit intrusions.
City, landlord, national police, everyone must sit around the table.
"
"The problem with the police is that they arrive once the damage is done, launches a resident, met in front of the old shopping center, burned in 2018. We need CRS vans more regularly, and not only on New Year's Eve.
Many also plead for a strengthening of mediators.
"There was a time when they would come into buildings, turn on the lights on the floors to check that everything was fine," says a man.
It's a shame that we don't see them anymore, it's all the solidarity that makes the Dervallières that risk disappearing.
"
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Drug traffic
District
Shooting
Nantes
Drug