Liu Shaoyao, a 56-year-old Chinese national, was shot dead at his home in Paris by a police officer on Sunday night. French police claimed he was shot by the officer as a "legitimate defense" against "an assailant with scissors," after the police were called to deal with a "domestic dispute."
However, family members disputed this version of event, and told local Chinese media that the father of five did not attack the police, and simply answered the door holding a pair of scissors which he was using to cut up a fish for dinner.
Family members: 'He did not attack the police at all.'
Liu, who spoke little French, lived in the 19th district in Paris with his wife and five children. On Sunday night, he was at his apartment with all five children when the police arrived.
Two of his daughters witnessed the shot.
Liu's daughters said Liu saw the plainclothes police officer through the door viewer, but he was afraid to open the door. The police smashed the door in, and Liu was holding a pair of scissors.
"My father was cutting up a fish for dinner in the kitchen, so he was holding a pair of scissors," Liu's daughter said. The police tried to break in, and they broke down the door in nearly ten seconds.
"My father was standing at the door, and he was hit by the door and then staggered back a few steps," the daughter continued. "The police saw my father holding a pair of scissors, shot my father, and he was dead in a second."
According to local Chinese reports, Liu, who is only 160 cm tall, was nearly pushed down by the door, and did not attack the police at all.
He did not have a psychological disorder
Liu Shaoyao was allegedly detained by police in 2012 because he got into a dispute due to a "psychological disorder."
However Liu's daughter said their father just liked to drink and is used to speaking loudly. "He did not have psychological disorder at all."
Chinese and French foreign ministries respond
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said its ministry will continue to pay attention to developments and protect the safety and rights of Chinese nationals in France.
"The Chinese Foreign Ministry is paying close attention to this incident. The Chinese embassy in France initiated an emergency mechanism, and urged French authorities to establish the facts of the case as soon as possible, and take effective measures to protect the safety and legal rights of Chinese nationals in France. The Chinese embassy has also sent condolences to the family of the deceased and is providing assistance to the family members," said Hua Chunying.
The French Foreign Ministry on Tuesday affirmed that ensuring the Chinese community's security remained the country's top priority.
"The security of all Chinese nationals in France is a priority of the (local) authorities," Romain Nadal, the ministry's spokesperson said at an e-press briefing.
"Reinforced measures have been taken in recent months, and all the arrangements are made to provide them with the best welcome and security conditions," he added.
Chinese community responds
The Chinese community in Paris responded after news of Liu's death spread. Cao Huaqin, director of the Rights Protection Center for Overseas Chinese in Paris, rushed to the site as soon as he learned of the incident and contacted a lawyer for Liu's family.
Around one hundred members of Paris' Chinese community on Monday evening protested outside a police station on Rue Erik Satie in the 19th district.
However, the demonstration descended into violence, which left four people, including three police officers injured, and resulted in three arrests.
At least one man of Asian origin was injured, according to witnesses, as police officers intervened with batons and tear gas at around 8:40 p.m. local time to disperse protesters.
"We're here to commemorate our compatriot, and we do not want to die from police violence," a protester said. "That's equality?" questioned another protester, a Chinese national who has lived in France for ten years.
Anger on Chinese social media
Many Chinese netizens expressed their anger on Weibo, China's version of Twitter, while some voiced their hesitation with limited truth available.
"The man was the uncle of a classmate of mine," said a netizen. "He died in a horrible way. I think it was due to communication problems." The netizen added that many overseas Chinese plan to launch protests in Milan, Rome, and Barcelona.
"Is it time to boycott French brands again?" another netizen asked.
"Dazuifayanren" suggested that overseas Chinese should depend on themselves to protect their interests, whereas "Hongchenqingge" urged China's Foreign Ministry to protect the safety and lawful interests of Chinese nationals in France.
"Nowadays, it's fair to say China is a very safe country," a netizen indicated. Another netizen named "ChenchaoCasey" echoed that "our motherland is the safest" on earth.
Nevertheless, not everyone agreed to take immediate actions against France. "I'd rather not comment until the truth comes out," said a netizen who calls himself "an 80-year-old lad."
