Montélimar – 04.07.2026: On the night from Friday to Saturday, two men were seriously injured by gunshots during a violent intrusion into a residential home in Montélimar. According to emergency services, responders were alerted shortly before 3:30 a.m.; on site they found a 50-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the back and his 22-year-old son, who had been hit in the leg. Both received emergency medical care and were taken to hospitals in the region. Authorities described their condition as serious.
According to initial findings, the victims were surprised in their own home. The father is said to have been struck inside the building, while the son says he was awakened by noises and was injured upon encountering the perpetrators. There are no indications of accelerants or explosives. Authorities initially gave no details about the exact weapon used.
Police cordoned off the area extensively. Specialized detectives from the criminal police and the forensic team documented bullet holes, recovered shell casings, and took witness statements in the neighborhood. Recordings from private surveillance cameras and doorbell cameras are also being reviewed. The aim of the investigation is to reconstruct the sequence of events that night, identify escape routes and narrow down a possible number of people involved.
The public prosecutor’s office in Valence took over the case and opened an investigation into attempted homicide and serious bodily injury. It is also being examined whether there are parallels to earlier incidents in the area. As of Saturday evening there were no indications of suspects being arrested. Police are asking witnesses who noticed anything unusual that night or who have video recordings to contact the relevant police station.
The municipality expressed concern and announced a temporarily increased presence of police and Gendarmerie, particularly at night. The town hall set up a contact point for residents for information and psychosocial support. According to the prefecture, relatives of the two injured are being supported by crisis counselors; further personal details are not being released for victim protection reasons.
Investigations are ongoing. As soon as reliable results are available – for example on motive, number of perpetrators or the weapon used – the prosecutor’s office and police will inform the public. Until then, authorities ask for restraint with respect to unconfirmed speculation so as not to hamper the investigators’ work.
Sources
- Franceinfo
- Le Dauphiné Libéré