Montpellier: a man shot dead, four suspects arrested

Europe 1 with AFP 2:40 p.m., January 4, 2023

A 36-year-old man was killed Tuesday morning by gunfire in Montpellier as he got into his vehicle, the city prosecutor's office said on Wednesday, adding that four suspects had been arrested in the process.

The victim, manager of a shisha bar in the Aiguerelles district, away from the center of Montpellier, was leaving around 7 a.m. from another shisha bar located nearby when he was targeted by bursts of fire as he was about to get behind the wheel of his car.

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The mayor condemns "firmly this settling of scores"

“These events took place near an establishment unfavorably known to the police services, which was the subject of several procedures and of which I asked the immediate closure of the prefect for the tranquility and serenity of the inhabitants”, had reacted Tuesday on Facebook the mayor of Montpellier, Michaël Delafosse.

The city councilor had also declared that he condemned "firmly (this) settling of scores" carried out "by individuals outside #Montpellier."

"It is incorrect to say that the victim has already been convicted of drug trafficking", however, said Wednesday the office of the public prosecutor of Montpellier, Fabrice Bélargent.

"The presence of about fifteen bullet holes was found on the body of the victim", who died "as a result of his injuries", he continued.

The presence, nearby, of police officers from the Territorial Directorate of the Judicial Police (DTPJ), as part of a separate investigation, made it possible shortly after the arrest of four people in a vehicle, added the floor.

"In the trunk of the vehicle, there was seized a loaded rifle (...), as well as two handguns", according to the same source.

The police custody of the four people arrested continues, while "searches and hearings are still in progress to establish the role of each", further notes the prosecution.