An 11-year-old girl was shot dead last night in the hamlet of Saint-Herbot in Plonévez-du-Faou in Finistère. A neighbor, armed with a rifle, allegedly attacked her and her family. The father of the victim was seriously injured and his vital prognosis is engaged. The mother was injured, but her life is not in danger. The second child of the British family, aged 8, was found alive “in a state of shock”.
The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody after the intervention of the gendarmerie and GIGN negotiator.
According to the first elements of the investigation, the neighbor of the victims, “a pensioner of Dutch nationality, aged 71, suddenly appeared armed with a firearm and fired several times in the direction of the victims who were in their garden, before retreating to his home, in the company of his wife”.
The family of British origin had settled in Plonévez-du-Faou for several years. Neighbors indicate that the couple and their children were known in the town and had good relations with the inhabitants.
Still according to these neighbours, the mother is a home helper for the ADMR. Both girls were in school.
An investigation opened for “voluntary homicide on a minor” According to the prosecution, the reasons for this tragedy are not yet known. However, “it would appear that a conflict has been opposing the two neighbors for several years over a plot of land adjoining the two properties”.
The Quimper prosecutor’s office specifies that a flagrant investigation has been opened on the counts of “intentional homicide on a minor aged 15” and “attempted intentional homicide”. It is entrusted to the soldiers of the research brigade of Chateaulin.
The mayor of the city acknowledges having been aware of “some disputes” between the two houses:
“I intervened with my deputies when we were elected. There was a problem with the terrain, noise pollution, it started from there,” she explains. Since these incidents, which occurred three years ago, the mayor assures that there has been “no alert”.
But since the drama happened on Saturday evening, Marguerite Bleuzen declares to have been aware of other disputes of which she was previously unaware of the existence. “This morning, tongues are loosening (…). I think they had a little trouble supporting each other,” she said of the father and the neighbor.
