He opened fire at his neighbors’ birthday party in a village in central France on Saturday night, killing three people before killing himself.
Police are trying to understand “the how and why” of this tragedy that occurred in Beaucelles, a community in western Vichy, during a family celebration for the birthday of a 20-year-old young man.
About 9:30 p.m., a neighbor who was not invited to the party appeared in the alley connecting his home to the family’s and opened fire, Mullen prosecutor Zeroch Pick said.
Psychological support
The 20-year-old, his father and a guest were killed by the gunfire, while four others were injured. About 15 guests, who were eyewitnesses to the murder, required psychological support.
The wounded are being treated in Vichy and their lives are not in danger.
“We assume the shooter turned the gun on himself” shortly afterward, Pick said.
Michel Marian, mayor of the community of Espinas-Vozel, a town of 1,000 inhabitants, said that everyone was “shocked” but he doesn’t know the reasons that led to the tragedy.
The attacker, who used an air pistol, had no criminal record, the prosecutor explained.