Villeurbanne: Two men shot and wounded at a drug dealing spot, their condition is critical

A new shooting linked to drug trafficking broke out Saturday evening in Villeurbanne, in the Lyon metropolitan area. Two men, aged 21 and 26, were wounded by gunfire in the Verlaine-Tolstoï district, an area identified for several years as an active drug dealing hotspot.

The incident occurred shortly before midnight. According to initial findings, two individuals riding electric scooters approached the victims before one of them opened fire several times. The assailants fled immediately after the shooting and were still being sought on Sunday.

A victim is fighting for their life.

Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene to treat the two injured men. One was shot in the thigh, while the other was shot in the abdomen. His condition is considered extremely serious and his life is in danger.

According to a police source, one of the victims is already known to the police. Investigators are focusing on the theory of a drug-related settling of scores, although all possibilities are still being considered at this stage of the investigation.

A climate of violence that worries the authorities

In response to this new outbreak of violence, the Rhône prefecture announced the deployment of a riot police unit to the neighborhood to reinforce the police presence and secure the area. The investigation is ongoing to identify the perpetrators of the attack.

In a statement, the Socialist mayor of Villeurbanne, Cédric Van Styvendael, denounced this as yet another example of the rise in drug-related violence in the Lyon metropolitan area. This incident comes as several shootings and settling of scores have already plagued the region in recent months, fueling concerns among residents and local officials.