What was meant to be a night of joy and new beginnings ended in unspeakable tragedy when gunmen opened fire at a wedding reception in the village of Goult, southeastern France, leaving a 27-year-old bride dead and three others—including her husband and a child—seriously wounded.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday, June 22, around 4:30 a.m. local time, as the bride and groom were departing the celebration. According to sources cited by CBS News, a group of masked assailants ambushed the couple and their guests, unleashing a hail of bullets as the newlyweds entered their vehicle.
French media outlet Le Parisien reported that the bride died at the scene. In the chaos, one of the gunmen was also killed—struck by the couple’s vehicle as they attempted to escape.
The groom, whose identity has not been released, sustained serious injuries, as did a 13-year-old child who was in the car with the couple. A third victim, reportedly the groom’s sister, was also wounded. All three were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, Le Figaro confirmed.
While the bride had no known criminal background, French authorities have revealed that the groom had a long history of criminal offenses, and his sister has also been previously convicted of a violent crime. This has prompted speculation about a possible motive behind the attack.
Local officials believe the shooting was not random. Goult Mayor Didier Perello, speaking at the scene of the incident, said the attack appeared to be “targeted,” reinforcing theories that the shooting may be gang-related.
An investigation has been launched by the prosecutor’s office in nearby Avignon, which is treating the case as “murder and attempted murder by an organized gang.”
Security operations are now underway to identify and apprehend the remaining assailants. Authorities have not disclosed how many gunmen were involved, but reports suggest the attack was premeditated and possibly linked to the groom’s criminal associations.
The shooting has left the quiet, picturesque village of Goult reeling. Known more for its vineyards and hilltop charm than violence, residents are struggling to comprehend the horror that unfolded in their midst.
“We’ve never seen anything like this here,” one local resident told France Info. “A wedding should be about love and happiness—not gunfire and death.”
As investigators work to piece together the events that led to this shocking act of violence, many in France are left grappling with the broader issue of organized crime’s reach—even into life’s most intimate and joyful moments.