man shoots his ex-wife to death in front of city court before committing suicide

The author, aged 72, was not known to the courts, the public prosecutor of Montpellier (Hérault) said Monday afternoon.

A man fatally shot his ex-wife in front of the Montpellier judicial court (Hérault), Tuesday February 20, before committing suicide, France Télévisions learned from a police and judicial source. “The final report shows two deaths”commented the prefecture on the social network “There were no ongoing proceedings regarding domestic violence, and no protection order”specified the public prosecutor of Montpellier, Fabrice Belargent, during a short press briefing in the middle of the afternoon.

The couple, who divorced in 2016, had an appointment in court to discuss the distribution of property, a “purely civil procedure”. Aged 72, “the man was not known to the courts, the victim was 66 years old”said the prosecutor.

An intervention by the police is underway after shots fired in front of the judicial court of #Montpellier #Hérault .
The final report shows 2 deaths.
The event is over.
The area is secured by police officers from DIPN 34. The prefect is on site. A… pic.twitter.com/1pfEikWExz

— Prefect of Hérault 🇫🇷 (@Prefet34) February 20, 2024

“Those present at the court – the lawyers, the staff – were immediately confined before being evacuated”added Fabrice Belargent, evoking a “judicial community in shock”.

“The area is secure”announced, shortly after the events, the prefecture of Hérault on “There are no more risks for Montpellier residents”she also commented to franceinfo.

Horrified by the femicide which took place in front of the Montpellier court this afternoon.

My thoughts are with the victim and his loved ones.

All my support to the court staff. The psychological support unit is triggered.

The prosecutor will speak from 4 p.m. https://t.co/MGpGKd0HrR

— Eric Dupond-Moretti (@E_DupondM) February 20, 2024

The Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, said he “horrified by [ce] feminicide” and addressed his thoughts “to the victim and his loved ones”. He also expressed his support for the court staff, specifying that a “psychological support unit had been triggered”.