Community Mourns Innocent Victims as Judicial Investigation Opens in Nice Moulins Shooting

Five days after a tragic shooting in the Moulins neighborhood of Nice, community members gathered to honor the two innocent victims, Rayan, aged 20, and Oyskhur Tapashev, aged 58. The vigil was held at Place Masséna, organized by the Union des Tchétchènes de France, where around three hundred people wore white t-shirts bearing Rayan's name. Oyskhur was remembered warmly by members of the Chechen community as a helpful figure who supported them upon arrival in France. Attendees collectively expressed shock and sorrow, emphasizing the victims' innocence and calling for justice.

In parallel, the Marseille prosecutor's office has opened a judicial investigation for serious charges following the shooting, which resulted in two deaths and five injured individuals. The accused will be presented before an investigating judge on charges including murder, attempted murder in an organized group, theft, and participation in a criminal organization aiming to carry out planned crimes. The perpetrators are reported to have used automatic weapons, firing from vehicles before fleeing the scene in this sensitive neighborhood.

Mayor Christian Estrosi condemned the shooting as an act of narcoterrorism, describing it as a terror scene and a call for justice and unity. He and the local imam urged the community to stand together against division. Family members of the victims, such as Rayan's sister, passionately demanded accountability for the perpetrators, underlining the profound pain caused by the loss of their loved ones.

The incident continues to reverberate through the community as investigations and mourning processes unfold, highlighting ongoing challenges related to public safety and social cohesion in Nice.