Overview

• The victim, a 36-year-old man, was shot twice, including once in the head, at 'Le Cercle' bar in Avignon’s Croix des Oiseaux district on May 7, 2025.
• Authorities suspect the killing was a drug-trafficking-related settling of scores, as the area is a known hub for narcotics activity.
• Two suspects reportedly fled the scene in a white utility vehicle, later found burned in Carpentras, and remain at large.
• The Division of Organized and Specialized Crime (DCOS) has taken over the investigation, with prosecutors confirming the use of a military-grade weapon in the attack.
• Avignon has experienced a surge in drug-related violence, highlighting social and economic challenges in one of France's poorest regions.