A 27-year-old bride was fatally shot, and her groom and a 13-year-old child were seriously injured when masked gunmen attacked a wedding party in the usually peaceful village of Goult, near Avignon in southeastern France.
The tragic incident happened around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, just as the newlyweds were leaving a celebration at the local village hall.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen arrived by car and opened fire before fleeing the scene on foot. During what authorities described as an “exchange of fire,” one of the suspected attackers was killed.
Initial accounts suggested he might have been run over while escaping, but prosecutors later said he was most likely hit in the crossfire.
Police Investigate Motive, Launch Manhunt
Police confirmed that 28 people were inside the village hall when the attack occurred. A woman sustained minor injuries during the chaos. Authorities are investigating possible motives, with French media reporting suspicions of drug-related retaliation.
While Goult is known for its calm environment, nearby urban areas have recently seen an increase in organized crime and trafficking activity.
The hall used for the wedding was reserved in March by individuals not originally from the small commune. Local officials believe this detail could be relevant to the investigation. A full-scale manhunt involving dozens of officers and a police helicopter is underway, as several of the attackers remain at large.
An official investigation into murder and attempted murder has been opened. Law enforcement agents are gathering witness statements and reviewing security footage from nearby areas.
Shock and Grief in a Quiet Community
The attack has sent shockwaves through the village of about 1,000 people. Local mayor Didier Perello condemned the violence and expressed his sadness that the shooting involved outsiders. “I’m outraged,” he said. “We’re close to towns—I won’t name them—where unfortunately we’ve seen this kind of thing before.”
Guillaume Molinas, a restaurant owner in the area, said the shooting shattered the peace of the community. “The last major incident in the village was 125 years ago,” he noted, saying the violence would leave a lasting stain on the town’s image.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims or the deceased suspect. The groom and the teenage victim are being treated in hospital and remain in critical condition.
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