Shooting Incident in Puget-sur-Argens Leaves One Dead and One Injured
A French national fatally shot his Tunisian neighbor and injured another neighbor from Turkey, while disseminating racist videos on social media.
On the evening of June 1, 2025, a shooting incident in Puget-sur-Argens, Var, resulted in the death of a Tunisian neighbor and injuries to a Turkish neighbor.
The assailant, a 53-year-old French national, reportedly fled the scene but was apprehended shortly after authorities were alerted by his partner.
The Gendarmerie Nationale's GIGN intervention unit was called to assist in the arrest.
Multiple firearms, including an automatic pistol, a shotgun, and a handgun, were discovered in the suspect's vehicle, according to local prosecutor Pierre Couttenier.
The deceased, believed to be around 35 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The injured victim, aged 25, sustained a hand injury and was transported to a hospital in Fréjus.
The identities of the victims are still pending confirmation.
Prior to and following the incident, the suspect allegedly posted two videos containing racist and hateful content on his social media account.
In light of these developments, the prosecutor stated that a flagrance investigation has been initiated, focusing on murder and attempted murder motivated by presumed ethnic or national affiliation.
The investigation has been entrusted to the research brigade of the gendarmerie in Draguignan.
In response to the events, SOS Racisme, an anti-racism organization, condemned the incident, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding racism in France.
The group's president, Dominique Sopo, remarked that the shooting is indicative of a troubling trend where racism is increasingly expressed openly and violently, calling for greater recognition of anti-racist discourse in political and media conversations.
The assailant, a 53-year-old French national, reportedly fled the scene but was apprehended shortly after authorities were alerted by his partner.
The Gendarmerie Nationale's GIGN intervention unit was called to assist in the arrest.
Multiple firearms, including an automatic pistol, a shotgun, and a handgun, were discovered in the suspect's vehicle, according to local prosecutor Pierre Couttenier.
The deceased, believed to be around 35 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The injured victim, aged 25, sustained a hand injury and was transported to a hospital in Fréjus.
The identities of the victims are still pending confirmation.
Prior to and following the incident, the suspect allegedly posted two videos containing racist and hateful content on his social media account.
In light of these developments, the prosecutor stated that a flagrance investigation has been initiated, focusing on murder and attempted murder motivated by presumed ethnic or national affiliation.
The investigation has been entrusted to the research brigade of the gendarmerie in Draguignan.
In response to the events, SOS Racisme, an anti-racism organization, condemned the incident, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding racism in France.
The group's president, Dominique Sopo, remarked that the shooting is indicative of a troubling trend where racism is increasingly expressed openly and violently, calling for greater recognition of anti-racist discourse in political and media conversations.
