Gunmen, on Sunday, opened fire at a hall in Goult village, near South-East Avignon in France, venue of a wedding ceremony, killing the bride, injuring the groom, his sister and a 13-year-old child.

AFP reports that an exchange of gunfire ensued, leading to the death of one of the suspected attackers, while the rest of the assailants, who had arrived at the scene in a car, all fled on foot.

While some reports stated that the suspect was run over by the couple’s vehicle, Avignon prosecutor Florence Galtier confirmed that the suspect was hit “in the exchange.”

According to the prosecutor, the 27-year-old bride and the 25-year-old groom were heading out of the reception around 4:30 a.m. local time when the attackers opened fire.

The police said 28 people were present at the hall during the attack, which local media suspects is linked to drug-related score-settling.

Goult mayor Didier Perello, who stated the hall had, since March, been booked for a wedding by people who live outside the commune, also said, “I’m outraged. We’re close to towns, I won’t name them, where, unfortunately, we’ve seen this kind of thing before.”

He also told journalists at a press briefing at the scene of the incident that he believes the shooting “was targeted,”

Local newspaper Le Figaro reports that the identities of the couple have not been released but that the groom has a history of criminal offences while his sister also has a violent offence on her record.

However, the police have no record of the late bride.

The prosecutor’s office in Avignon has commenced an investigation into the “murder and attempted murder by an organized gang”. 

Authorities added that officers and a helicopter were involved in the manhunt to ensure the capture of the fleeing suspects.