Goult, France – June 23, 2025 — A wedding celebration in the quiet Provençal village of Goult turned into a deadly tragedy in the early hours of Sunday morning, when masked gunmen opened fire on guests, killing the 27-year-old bride and seriously wounding her groom and a teenage boy.
One of the suspected attackers was also killed during the incident, which authorities suspect may be linked to drug-related violence.
The attack occurred around 4:30 a.m. local time, shortly after the newlyweds exited the village hall where the reception was held, according to the Avignon prosecutor’s office. As the couple was leaving the celebration, they were ambushed by unidentified gunmen who opened fire without warning.
Prosecutor Florence Galtier stated that the bride was fatally struck in the attack, while the 25-year-old groom and a 13-year-old child sustained serious injuries.
Another woman was lightly wounded. One of the suspected assailants was also killed, reportedly during an exchange of gunfire, although initial reports had suggested he may have been run over by a vehicle.
A massive manhunt has been launched to track down the remaining suspects, who fled the scene on foot after arriving in a vehicle. Dozens of police officers, along with a helicopter, are combing the surrounding region in search of the gunmen.
A total of 28 people were in the hall at the time of the shooting. Authorities have since launched a formal investigation into murder and attempted murder, while not ruling out the possibility of a targeted, drug-related score-settling.
Speaking to French media, Avignon prosecutor Galtier said the investigation is “exploring all leads” but noted that “elements of the case suggest a possible criminal background linked to narcotics.”
The shocking act of violence has stunned the small community of Goult, a picturesque village of just 1,000 residents in the Vaucluse department, nestled in the Luberon hills.
“I’m outraged,” said Goult’s mayor, Didier Perello, expressing both grief and indignation. “The village hall was booked back in March by people who don’t live in the commune. We are close to towns where, unfortunately, we’ve seen this kind of thing before.”
Mayor Perello was likely referring to neighbouring urban areas in the region that have experienced escalating drug violence in recent years. While rural villages like Goult have largely remained untouched, Sunday’s events suggest an alarming spread of such criminal activity.
Local residents echoed the mayor’s concerns. Guillaume Molinas, a 50-year-old restaurant owner, told AFP: “This is going to give the village a bad name. The last major incident here was 125 years ago.”
The names of the victims have not yet been released as authorities continue to notify family members. The bride and groom were reportedly not residents of Goult, and it remains unclear whether they had any known ties to criminal networks.
As the investigation unfolds, residents and officials alike are grappling with the aftermath of the brutal attack, which has shaken the tranquillity of this normally peaceful village in southeastern France.
