The 16-year-old Roma man shot by a policeman in Thessaloniki has died, AP reported, quoted by BTA.

The teenager was hospitalized for more than a week in Greece's second-largest city after he was shot in the early hours of December 5 by a police officer on a motorcycle during a chase.

The teenager allegedly filled up his pick-up at a gas station and left without paying the €20 bill.

Despite calls from public officials and some family members of the young Roma to remain calm, the shooting led to violent protests by the Roma community in Thessaloniki, Athens and other parts of our southern neighbor.

A young Roma man was seriously injured in the head after a chase with the police near Thessaloniki.

There was a riot

“Everyone here is crying.

It's unfair for a child to go away like this," said a representative of the Roma community where the teenager lived.

The hospital treating the young Roma, who has not been officially identified, said the 16-year-old was admitted to the health facility in critical condition.

He was placed in the intensive care unit after an emergency operation, but despite all the efforts of the medics, the boy died this morning.

The 34-year-old police officer accused of shooting the teenager has been suspended and has been under house arrest since Friday pending a court ruling that will determine whether he will remain in custody pending his trial.

The charges are attempted murder with possible intent and unlawful discharge of a weapon.

Police said the teenager tried to ram the police motorbikes involved in the chase with his pickup, and at an initial court appearance last week, the officer charged in the Roma youth case said he fired his weapon because he was afraid for the lives of their colleagues.