A horrifying and brazen attack shattered what should have been the happiest day in a couple’s life, as a bride was fatally shot and three others — including a 13-year-old child — were wounded during a targeted and organized shooting at a wedding in southeastern France, authorities confirmed.
The violence erupted in the early hours of Sunday morning in the quiet village of Goult, located in the Provence region, when four masked gunmen stormed a private wedding celebration and opened fire on guests, according to reports from CBS News, BBC, and the French newspaper Le Parisien.
Officials say the bride was killed instantly in what local authorities describe as a meticulously planned and targeted attack. Goult Mayor Didier Perello told reporters the shooting bore all the hallmarks of a premeditated ambush.
Among the three wounded were the groom, the bride’s sister, and a 13-year-old child whose relation to the couple remains unclear. The child is reportedly in stable condition, but the full extent of the injuries has not been disclosed.
In a desperate attempt to escape, the groom reportedly tried to flee the scene by car, with the bride and the injured teen inside. During the escape, he is said to have run over one of the attackers, killing the gunman instantly. That suspect’s identity has not yet been made public.
The remaining three assailants fled, triggering a large-scale manhunt involving dozens of officers and aerial surveillance, including helicopters, according to BBC News. By Sunday evening, two of the suspects had been apprehended. The fourth remains at large as authorities intensify their search.
While police have not released details about the suspects or the motive behind the attack, early statements suggest the shooting may be linked to drug-related violence, according to BBC. Sources told Le Parisien that both the groom and the bride’s sister are known to law enforcement and have extensive criminal histories, lending further weight to theories that the shooting was not random.
In a chilling update, the Avignon prosecutor’s office has now opened a formal investigation, classifying the incident as “murder and attempted murder by an organized gang,” according to Le Figaro. This designation indicates a serious criminal conspiracy and could result in sweeping charges for those involved.
The normally serene village of Goult has been left shaken by the daylight execution-style violence, with locals and officials reeling from the sheer brutality of the attack. Police have increased patrols in the area, and the wedding venue remains cordoned off as investigators continue to gather evidence.
As the search continues for the final suspect, authorities are calling on anyone with information about the gunmen or the attack to come forward. Meanwhile, France grapples with yet another shocking display of gang-related violence breaching public life — this time at a wedding meant to celebrate love, not end in bloodshed.
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