20.08.2026 12:00
In Bursa, Berk Keles, who shot a person at an entertainment venue and spread terror while fleeing in a taxi, was killed by off-duty police officer M.S. after responding to a 'Stop, police' warning with gunfire. While the horrifying moments were captured on camera, the prosecutor's office requested that the officer, against whom a lawsuit was filed, be considered as acting in self-defense.
A lawsuit has been filed against police officer M.S. (30) on charges of 'intentional killing' for warning Berk Keleş (35), who injured a person with a firearm during an argument at an entertainment venue in Bursa, to surrender, and then shooting and killing him when he responded with gunfire. In the indictment, it was requested that the crime be evaluated within the scope of 'self-defense', on the grounds that the police officer, who was off duty on the day of the incident, acted in accordance with the requirements of his duty. Meanwhile, security camera footage of the incident has emerged.
The incident occurred around 03:30 on December 16, 2025, at an entertainment venue located on Istanbul Street, Küplüpınar Neighborhood, Osmangazi district. Berk Keleş went to the entertainment center with his friends Ş.G., K.K., and Y.G. After eating and drinking alcohol, Berk Keleş reportedly reacted to the bill by cursing. While Keleş was arguing with the venue's employee Önder Y., the business manager K.U. called a taxi to take the customer who was causing trouble home. Keleş, who continued his insults, then opened fire with his pistol at Önder Y., who said, 'It doesn't suit you at all,' injuring him in the leg. Keleş then got into the taxi, pointed his gun at the surrounding crowd, and shouted, 'I'll burn this place down.' At that moment, police officer M.S., noticing the situation, warned Keleş, saying, 'Stop, police. Surrender, drop your weapon.' Keleş then fired 2-3 shots from inside the vehicle towards the police officer who had warned him. In response, police officer M.S., who was reportedly off duty, fired back with his pistol, and one of the bullets struck Berk Keleş in the head. Keleş died at the hospital where he was taken with serious injuries. Önder Y., who was injured in the leg, was discharged after treatment, while police officer M.S., who was detained, was released under judicial control. The moment of the incident was captured on cameras in the surroundings and in the taxi.
"ACTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF HIS DUTY"
The Public Prosecutor's Office completed its investigation into the incident in about 6 months. A lawsuit was filed against the defendant, who is not under arrest, in the heavy penal court on charges of 'intentional killing'. The public prosecutor who prepared the indictment stated that police officer M.S. acted in accordance with the requirements of his duty, both regarding the injured Önder Y., the crowd gathered in front of the workplace, and finally regarding himself, and requested that the suspect's crime be evaluated within the scope of 'self-defense' pursuant to Article 25 of the TPC. The trial for the case will begin in the coming days.
"DURING HOURS WHEN HE WAS NOT ON DUTY..."
M.S.'s lawyer, Gülen, stating that the police work on a 24/7 basis, said: "A police officer must intervene in an incident the moment they see it, whether on their day off or during hours they are not on duty. The law imposes this authority and obligation on the police officer. So, based on the 24/7 principle, can the police intervene here? Yes. In fact, the law states that a police officer must intervene in an incident 24/7. Here, rather than the police's intervention, the security camera footage of what happened has emerged. So, how is this footage evaluated on a legal basis? Now, first, to not commit a crime here, the police must identify themselves as police officer multiple times when they see the incident. They must warn, 'I am the police. Stop, police.'"
"THE POLICE OFFICER ISSUES A WARNING 5 TIMES"
Lawyer Gülen, stating that the police officer issued a 'stop' warning many times, said, "In our incident, according to the camera footage, our police officer warns the person 'Stop, police' five or six times. A person close to the deceased inside the taxi also stated in his testimony that the police officer warned five times, saying 'Stop, police' and 'Surrender, drop your weapon.' The person is also trying to shoot; perhaps because he shot there, if there had been no police officer, could it also be evaluated as self-defense? Now, the situation is this: the person firing is actually firing at the police officer's gun. Here, my client, the police officer, first aimed at the leg of the deceased person holding the weapon and shot him in the leg," he said.
The trial of police officer M.S., whose prepared indictment was accepted by the heavy penal court, will begin in the coming days.