Masked Men Kill Bride as She Exits Wedding

A wedding in a quiet French village ended in heartbreak and devastation early Sunday when masked gunmen opened fire, killing the bride, officials say. Shots rang out as more than two dozen guests watched the newlyweds leave their celebration in the village of Goult around 4:30am, according to police. The bride, 27, was killed in the attack, which also left the 25-year-old groom and a 13-year-old child seriously wounded, per the BBC. One of the suspected gunmen was also killed, reportedly in an exchange of gunfire. Authorities are searching for additional suspects, who escaped on foot after arriving by car.

French media have suggested the attack may be tied to a drug-related dispute, though this has not been confirmed by investigators. Goult's mayor, Didier Perello, expressed outrage at the violence, noting the village hall had been booked three months ago "for a wedding by people who don't live in the commune." He drew a distinction between Goult and nearby towns that have experienced similar incidents, saying such violence is rare for the village of about 1,000 residents. Restaurant owner Guillaume Molinas said the last major incident in Goult occurred 125 years ago. The village is now the site of a large-scale police response, with a helicopter being used in the ongoing manhunt. (This content was created with the help of AI. Read our AI policy.)