Gambiaj.com – (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain) – Spanish National Police officers shot and killed a 19-year-old Gambian man, Abdoulie Bah, outside the main terminal of Gran Canaria Airport on Saturday, 17 May. The shooting, which took place in front of shocked passengers, has sparked a judicial investigation into the circumstances that led to his death.

Bah, who had been living in the Canary Islands since 2019, reportedly attempted to board a flight to The Gambia without a valid ticket for that day. Although he had a valid reservation for 22 May, he was denied boarding. Later, he triggered a security alarm at a checkpoint, drawing the attention of airport authorities.

According to multiple official sources and video footage reviewed by investigators, Bah was seen running through the terminal before exiting the building and advancing toward a group of National Police officers in the car park area while holding a knife.

Officers reportedly issued repeated warnings for him to stop before firing five shots. One bullet struck Bah in the neck, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident is now under the purview of Court of Instruction No. 3 in Telde, which is examining video evidence to determine whether the use of lethal force was legally justified. The police union JUPOL has defended the officers’ actions as “proportional and congruent,” citing the danger posed to officers and civilians nearby.

Emerging details about Bah’s final days have raised troubling questions about his mental health and the support structures available to him after aging out of the state care system.

A Life of Promise, Cut Short

Abdoulie Bah arrived in the Canary Islands as an unaccompanied minor and was placed under the guardianship of the regional government. Known among peers and caregivers as calm, respectful, and industrious,

Bah completed his secondary education and vocational training in administrative work. He held a range of jobs, including as a mechanic, builder, kitchen assistant, and most recently, as a translator and educator at a shelter for unaccompanied migrant minors.

Fluent in several languages — including Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Bambara, Spanish, and English — Bah was praised for helping newly arrived youths adapt to life in the Canary Islands. He was also an active member of the local football community, playing two seasons with the Lomo Blanco SJA football club and participating in tournaments hosted by the Federation of Immigrants and Refugees ‘Países.’

His friends and colleagues are now grappling with how a young man described as peaceful and intelligent came to die in such a tragic and violent manner.

“He was exceptionally intelligent, calm, and kind,” said Sheriff Seedou, a childhood friend from Gambia who had reconnected with Bah last year. “This is not the person I knew.”

Signs of Mental Distress and Transitioning from State Care

Several of Bah’s close acquaintances reported a rapid deterioration in his mental health in the weeks leading up to his death. Abdoulie Camara, a friend and former flatmate, recounted that Bah had begun talking to himself and expressing paranoid thoughts that people were trying to harm him.

Camara and another flatmate once contacted police when Bah locked himself in his room and refused to respond, but officers reportedly declined to intervene as he was in his own home.

Efforts were underway to connect Bah with mental health support through an NGO, but those plans were not realized in time.

The 19-year-old had a minor police record related to an incident on 14 May — just three days before his death — when he was seen walking along the GC-23 motorway. Emergency services were alerted due to concerns for traffic safety. During the encounter, Bah reportedly resisted arrest and engaged in a physical struggle with officers. He was detained and released after appearing in court.

On the day of the fatal shooting, Bah had allegedly attempted to rob a taxi driver near the airport using the same knife later found in his possession, according to sources close to the investigation.

Bah had turned 18 on 5 May, just twelve days before the incident. His birthday marked the end of his placement under the Canary Islands’ child protection system. Although he initially appeared to transition well into independent living — securing work and accommodation — the loss of structured support may have left him vulnerable as his mental state deteriorated.

Friends and advocates are now questioning whether more could have been done to prevent the tragedy, especially given the warning signs of psychological distress. Many remain unable to reconcile the image of the kind, composed young man they knew with the reports of erratic and violent behavior in his final days.

Ongoing Investigation

As the judicial inquiry continues, questions remain about the proportionality of the police response and the broader systems in place to support vulnerable youth, particularly unaccompanied migrants transitioning out of care.

No further official statements have been made, but Bah’s death has prompted a wave of grief among former classmates, colleagues, and community members who remember him not as a threat but as a compassionate and driven young man — a bridge for others navigating the hardships he once faced.