Killing of Peter R. de Vries

A memorial for de Vries after the shooting

In the evening of 6 July 2021, Dutch investigative journalist and crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was shot in the head after leaving the television studio of RTL Boulevard in Amsterdam. Many shots were fired at him at the Lange Leidsedwarsstraat while he was on his way to his car.[1] He was taken to the VU University Medical Center in critical condition.[2][3][4][5][6] De Vries died as a result of the shooting on 15 July 2021.[7]

Reason

Later in his career, de Vries became one of the most visible figures in the journalistic investigation of cold cases in the Netherlands, such as the death of Nicky Verstappen, in which he supported the victim's family in court.

In 2021, De Vries supported the crown witness Nabil Bakkali in the Marengo process. Less than two years earlier, Bakkali's lawyer, Derk Wiersum, had been murdered outside his home in Amsterdam.[8]

Suspects

The Dutch police arrested three suspects the same day of the shooting.[9] Two suspects were in a car that was stopped on the A4 motorway near Leidschendam.[10] The third person was released the next day, and is no longer a suspect.[11] A 35-year-old Polish man, Kamil E., is the suspected getaway car driver, while a 21-year-old Dutchman, Delano G., is the suspected shooter.[12] Dutch media has reported that the suspected killer is the nephew or cousin of one of the henchmen of Ridouan Taghi, known as the Netherlands' most-wanted criminal.[13][14] De Vries was involved in the prosecution of Taghi.[12]

References

  1. "Dit weten we nu over de aanslag op Peter R. de Vries" (in nl). NOS. 8 July 2021. https://nos.nl/artikel/2388418-dit-weten-we-nu-over-de-aanslag-op-peter-r-de-vries. Retrieved 8 July 2021. 
  2. Laumans, Wouter; Vugts, Paul (2021-07-06). "Peter R. de Vries neergeschoten op Lange Leidsedwarsstraat" [Peter R. de Vries shot down at Lange Leidsedwarsstraat]. Het Parool (in Nederlands). Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  3. "Misdaadjournalist Peter R. de Vries neergeschoten in centrum Amsterdam" (in nl). NU.nl. 6 July 2021. https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6143978/misdaadjournalist-peter-r-de-vries-neergeschoten-in-centrum-amsterdam.html. Retrieved 6 July 2021. 
  4. "Crime reporter Peter de Vries fighting for life after Amsterdam shooting". The Guardian. 2021-07-06.
  5. "Peter R. de Vries neergeschoten in centrum Amsterdam, drie verdachten aangehouden" (in nl). De Telegraaf. 7 July 2021. https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1999605327/peter-r-de-vries-neergeschoten-in-centrum-amsterdam-drie-verdachten-aangehouden. Retrieved 10 July 2021. 
  6. "Verdachten aanslag op Peter R. de Vries zijn een Pool uit Maurik en een Rotterdammer" (in nl). Metronieuws. 7 July 2021. https://www.metronieuws.nl/in-het-nieuws/binnenland/2021/07/verdachten-aanslag-peter-r-de-vries/. Retrieved 10 July 2021. 
  7. "Peter R. de Vries (64) overleden aan verwondingen na moordaanslag" (in nl). NU.nl. 15 July 2021. https://www.nu.nl/peter-r-de-vries/6143983/peter-r-de-vries-64-overleden-aan-verwondingen-na-moordaanslag.html. Retrieved 15 July 2021. 
  8. "Crime journalist Peter R de Vries is known for his high profile cases". DutchNews.nl. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  9. "Mogelijke schutter en twee andere verdachten opgepakt voor aanslag De Vries". NU. July 6, 2021.
  10. "Dit weten we nu over de verdachten van de aanslag op Peter R. de Vries". nos.nl.
  11. Herter, Anna (July 8, 2021). "Dit weten we nu over de aanslag op Peter R. de Vries". Het Parool.
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Dutch crime reporter Peter de Vries dies after shooting". the Guardian. 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  13. "Suspect in De Vries shooting linked to Taghi; Crime writer's condition still critical". NL Times. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  14. "Journalist Peter R de Vries dies in hospital after being shot in street". DutchNews.nl. 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2021-07-15.