Ilias Akoudad, who was a drug dealer, returned at length to the late afternoon of May 5, 2021 when he fatally shot brigadier Éric Masson. Although he admitted to having fired, he continued to deny that he knew the victim's status as a police officer.
“I apologize, it's weak. I wish Mr. Masson was still alive, every day I think of him, and I will until the end of my days,” he said.