Ethem Sarısülük, 26, was shot by police officer Ahmet Şahbaz during pro-Gezi Park protests in Kızılay Square, Ankara, on 1 June 2013. Hit in the head, Sarısülük lingered in a coma before dying 14 days later. When a court released Officer Şahbaz pending trial, demonstrators held a vigil in Taksim, calling for justice. Police blocked the demonstrators from actually entering Gezi Park or Taksim Square, the center point of the protests, but the event remained peaceful. Video of Sarısülük's shooting is available on the internet.

In September 2014, officer Ahmet Şahbaz was sentenced to 7 years and 9 months in prison, to be released on probation after serving 4 years and 10 months. However, in September 2015, a court freed him entirely.