French prosecutors report that a 15-year-old boy was killed and a 13-year-old boy is fighting for his life after a suspected drug-related shooting in the western city of Nantes. The attackers, wearing balaclavas and using automatic weapons, fired on three young men, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
Nantes prosecutor Antoine Leroy said the attack was a settlement of scores related to drug offenses. However, the 15-year-old victim's aunt, Paola, insists he was not involved in criminal activity, stating he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time while visiting a friend.
Two bursts of around ten gunshots were heard by witnesses. The city's mayor, Johanna Rolland, condemned the drug trafficking plaguing the country and called for full police resources to find the attackers. This shooting follows another fatal incident in the same area late last month.
France's Ministry of Justice estimates that the number of teenagers involved in the illegal drug trade has risen more than four-fold in the past eight years. Several French cities have imposed night-time curfews to combat drug-related violence.