What should have been the happiest night of their lives ended in bloodshed for a newlywed couple in France — as their wedding celebration turned into a war zone.
A 27-year-old bride was shot dead and three others were seriously wounded after masked gunmen stormed a wedding reception in the village of Goult, in southeastern France, in the early morning hours of June 22. The attackers opened fire around 4:30 a.m. as the bride and groom were leaving the venue, according to French media and CBS News.
The gunfire erupted just moments after the celebration had ended. In a desperate attempt to escape, the couple jumped into a vehicle — but one of the masked gunmen was struck and killed as they sped away. Both the bride and the shooter died at the scene.
Among the wounded was the groom himself, who reportedly has a lengthy criminal history, as well as a 13-year-old child who was in the getaway vehicle. Both suffered serious injuries. The groom’s sister, who also has a violent record, was the third victim injured in the ambush, according to Le Figaro.
The identities of the bride and groom have not yet been made public. Local reports suggest the bride was not known to police, but her new husband may have been the intended target of what authorities are now treating as a targeted, gang-related attack.
“This was a planned assault,” Goult Mayor Didier Perello told reporters at the scene. Officials believe the shooters were lying in wait and specifically intended to strike as the couple departed.
The public prosecutor’s office in Avignon has opened a criminal investigation into “murder and attempted murder by an organized gang.” A massive law enforcement operation is now underway to track down the remaining assailants.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the region and beyond — turning a wedding into a crime scene and leaving a trail of trauma, unanswered questions, and a grieving family just hours after the vows were exchanged.
Well,your past catches up with you