Boy, 9, killed by Iranian police. Reason: His father stole the car World news
Police shot dead a boy after his father stole a car in southwestern Khuzestan province of Iran. Authorities told the Associated Press that after stealing the car, the man drove off with the boy. Ruhollah Bigdeli, the police chief in the Shushtar district, said on the Iranian police website that officers tried to stop the “stolen car by shooting at it,” but the child was caught in the crossfire.
The 9-year-old died at the scene, police said. The man had been given several warnings before police opened fire, authorities said. The man has a criminal record, including car theft and drug possession, they added.
Iran’s Jamaran website identified the boy as 9-year-old Morteza Delf Zaregani. The father accused police of not giving him any warning before he was shot, according to the report. Morteza’s photo has been widely shared on social media as people express grief over his death.
A similar incident occurred in November when 9-year-old Kian Pirfalak was shot dead. His mother blamed the security forces for his death. Pirfalak was shot and killed while walking with her parents on a street in Izeh during nationwide anti-hijab protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, the Associated Press reported.
