In the early hours of June 22, 2025, a joyous French wedding in the quaint village of Goult, southeastern France, was shattered by a violent gun attack that left the 27-year-old bride dead and three others wounded, including a child. The incident has sent shockwaves through the close-knit community and prompted a swift police investigation into possible drug-related motives.
According to Avignon prosecutor Florence Galtier, masked assailants opened fire on the newlyweds as they were leaving the village hall around 4:30 am (0230 GMT). The bride was among those fatally shot, and one of the attackers also died during the confrontation, reportedly hit “in return.” Earlier accounts suggest the attacker was run over by the couple’s car in the chaos.
Three others sustained injuries, including the 25-year-old groom and a 13-year-old passenger in the car, both seriously hurt. The attackers, who arrived by car armed with multiple weapons, fled on foot after the assault.
The village of Goult, home to just 28 wedding guests that night, is reeling from the violence. Mayor Didier Perello expressed his outrage, stating, “I’m angry. I’m outraged.” He also acknowledged the possibility of the attack being linked to score-settling, saying, “I’m ruling nothing out. Absolutely nothing.”
Authorities have launched an investigation for murder and attempted murder by an organized gang. Dozens of police officers and a helicopter are involved in the manhunt for the gunmen.
The village hall had been rented by the couple in March, though neither resides in the commune. Local restaurant owner Guillaume Molinas lamented the incident’s impact, noting, “The last major incident in the village was 125 years ago.”
This tragedy occurs amid the French government’s renewed commitment to combat narcotics and drug-related crime, underscoring the persistent challenges facing even peaceful rural communities.
