Attack on the prison van: an entire village mourns Arnaud Garcia

It is a shock of incredible violence, like the attack that occurred on Tuesday May 14, 2024, shortly before noon at the Incarville tollbooth (Eure), which struck the peaceful Augeron village. As he came out of a festive weekend and was preparing for the next and upcoming event, the Neighbors’ Day, the people of Castelblange learned of the loss of one of their own in circumstances that could hardly have been more dramatic. Arnaud Garcia, aged 34, was killed like Fabrice Moello, 52, from Thury-Harcourt (Calvados). Both, like their injured colleagues, were based at the Judicial Extractions Attachment Center (PREJ) in Caen.

“Today, my son Arnaud was murdered while doing his job.”

It is with these words, chilling and funereal, that Dominique Garcia began a sober publication on the Facebook account of his son Arnaud, Tuesday May 14, 2024. “Anger, and courage to Mary, his wife,” he continues and concludes -he. Since then, hundreds of messages of support and condolences have poured in in the comments.

A civic spirit

In this village of 736 souls, who doesn’t know Dominique Garcia? Former commander of the Blangy-le-Château gendarmerie, based in the town for 25 years, he is today deputy mayor, continuing his investment in the service of citizens. And his son Arnaud followed suit. “Arnaud arrived in Blangy when I was in CM1,” remembers Dorian Coge, mayor of the Augeron village. We were in the same class and we did a good part of our schooling together. We got closer; he was the son of a police officer, I the son of a firefighter, and we grew up in this civic spirit. From a young age, Arnaud was attracted to involvement with law enforcement, he hated injustice and chose a career in a penitentiary center. He rose through the ranks within the Caen and Argentan centers. We have always been friends, we followed our careers, each being happy with the successes of the other. »

Arnaud was going to be a father

Beyond this professional success, Arnaud Garcia also experienced happiness with his wife Mary who is expecting a baby. The young woman is 5 months pregnant. With the arrival of this great happiness in their relationship, happiness hoped for for a long time, Arnaud had made the choice to review his professional life, as Dorian Coge explains: “Last Wednesday, he told me again that he was delighted with his new assignment. He had been a prison guard for 10 years, and had asked to be assigned to the judicial extractions center (Prej) of the Caen penitentiary center. And the mayor continued: “He had just arrived at this position which would allow him to work only during the week and during the day. That’s what he told me, that he was going to be able to enjoy his family life. »

A change of schedule

During the inmate’s transfer, Arnaud Garcia was present in the second vehicle, the van which was located behind the van transporting Mohamed Amra, according to prison service sources. However, he almost didn’t make it that fateful day. As fate would have it, a change in schedule put him on duty. He was in fact replacing a colleague on this detainee transport.

An online prize pool and a tribute

“We will do everything we can to support Arnaud’s family,” assures Dorian Coge. “By being there for them, of course, but also in a more concrete way. We are going to launch an online fundraiser to help Mary, his wife who finds herself alone and who will soon have their baby. I suppose there will be a national tribute for Arnaud and his missing colleague as well, but we will also do one in Blangy afterwards. The entire population of our village wants to show their emotion and share the pain of the family and loved ones. We will surround Arnaud’s family, Mary, his wife who carries life; and his parents Dominique and Annick, we will support them when it becomes unbearable.”

Neighbors’ party canceled

The heart is no longer celebrating in Blangy. Neighbors’ Day, scheduled for Friday May 31, 2024, has already been canceled. The thoughts of Castelblange residents are turned to Mary, the wife of Arnaud Garcia, and to Dominique and Annick, his parents.

With Pascal DESMOUDT

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