A 20-year-old man faces judicial control after being arrested with an M16 rifle linked to an attempted murder in Nîmes. A deadly shooting occurred in the same neighborhood just days prior.
Young man seeks judicial control
A 20-year-old man with no prior criminal record appeared before an appellate court in Nîmes on October 14, 2026, to request judicial control after being arrested in late September 2025. He is seeking to be released from provisional detention to begin studies at a "school of second chance" starting in January 2027.Weapons found during traffic stop
The man was traveling in a Peugeot 3008 with another individual when law enforcement stopped them and discovered an M16 assault rifle in the vehicle. Both men were arrested and are believed to be linked to a dispute that led to an attempted murder in the Mas de Mingue neighborhood.Accused admits to involvement
The accused, charged with attempted murder as part of an organized group, stated from the witness stand that he "got involved" in the dispute and admitted it was "a big mistake on my part." He did not deny his role in the events leading to the attempted murder.Defense argues for transparency
His lawyer, Maître Manon Casteran, argued that her client provided information from the moment of his arrest and did not hide anything. She is requesting his release to allow him to pursue education at the "school of second chance."Prosecutor opposes release
The prosecutor general opposed the release, stating that "every week there are reprisals" in the area. This came days after a deadly shooting in the same neighborhood, where a 47-year-old man was executed in full daylight on October 11, 2026.Investigation continues
The appellate court will decide in the coming hours whether to grant judicial control or continue provisional detention. The case remains under investigation, as a third man was arrested on October 6, 2026, in the same case. This individual was placed under formal investigation and imprisoned at the end of last week.
