Two individuals are facing murder charges as members of a criminal group following the fatal shooting of a 27-year-old bride at a wedding party in southeastern France, according to prosecutors. The incident occurred during a wedding celebration in Goult, a village overlooking lavender fields, where gunmen believed to be settling drug-related scores opened fire last Sunday. The attack targeted several guests, including the newlyweds and the bride’s 13-year-old nephew, in the village hall’s car park. Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone revealed that the bride was fatally shot multiple times near her carotid artery, while the groom sustained upper body wounds, and the nephew suffered a lung injury and was initially in critical condition. One of the assailants was killed during the attack, having been shot and hit by a vehicle. The other three accomplices fled the scene but two were apprehended hours later in a nearby town, with the fourth still at large. Reports suggest a connection between the suspects and a separate shooting on the same day in Avignon, where one person was killed and another injured. Following 96 hours of police custody, the two arrested suspects were formally charged with murder and attempted murder by an organized gang. The motive behind the violence remains undisclosed by the Marseille public prosecutor, though sources suggest the groom had a history of involvement in drug and organized crime activities. The incident is believed to be linked to potential drug-related disputes. Goult, with a population of just over 1,000 as of 2022, is situated around 50 miles north of Marseille, a city that has experienced a rise in drug-related crimes in recent years. The French government has pledged to escalate efforts in combating narcotics and associated criminal activities.
