Man arrested after air rifle incident with children in Haute-Loire
Man arrested after air rifle incident with children in Haute-Loire; one child injured.
Event / Security
Espaly-Saint-Marcel Armed Attack Children
A 65-year-old man in Espaly-Saint-Marcel, Haute-Loire, France pursued and fired an air rifle at approximately ten children aged 6 to 11 while making racial insults on April 19, 2026. One child was injured and hospitalized. The perpetrator was arrested and charged with assault with a weapon. He had prior history of racist behavior known to local authorities.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 21 Apr, 11:08 UTC
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What happened
Man was known to authorities for prior incidents in neighborhood
Several neighbors reported that the 65-year-old man was previously known in the community for insulting behavior, property damage, and intimidation. The municipality had previously contacted the public housing authority (Opac 43) that manages the housing development, requesting assistance in relocating him to a different residence.
Man arrested and placed in police custody
The 65-year-old man was apprehended by law enforcement at the scene and placed in police custody. He was summoned by judicial police for charges related to assault with a weapon.
65-year-old man pursues children with air rifle in Haute-Loire
A 65-year-old resident of Espaly-Saint-Marcel pursued a group of approximately ten children aged 6 to 11 years old while armed with an air rifle in the Arbousset neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred in a residential housing development around 3 PM on April 19.
Complaint filed with local police commission
A formal complaint was filed with the police commission in Le Puy-en-Velay regarding the incident. The prosecutor's office noted that at the initial stage of the investigation, racial insults had not yet been formally documented by witnesses or victims in the official complaint.
Man fires air rifle at child, injuring one
The man fired his air rifle at the children while pursuing them. One child was struck in the calf and was hospitalized, receiving a medical certificate indicating three days of incapacity for work.
Man utters racial insults while pursuing children
During the incident, the man shouted racial insults at the children, including statements such as 'Out with the Blacks and Arabs.' Witnesses described his behavior as a 'real hunt' targeting children of color. Prior to the incident, the man had been recorded on video stating 'I am racist and I am proud to be racist. I say it loud and clear.'
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