Arrests Made After Firearm Incident at Subway in Rennes: Four Individuals Under Investigation
Three Suspected Gunmen Wreak Havoc in Rennes' Kennedy Square
In the heart of Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine, a chilling daylight shootout has left the city swiftly plunged into chaos. On April 17, four young men, aged between 21 and 23, are suspected of firing multiple rounds in broad daylight, reportedly to reclaim a drug-dealing hotspot[1].
According to reports by Ouest-France, the three hooded gunmen stormed a Subway restaurant on Kennedy square, where they unleashed a hail of bullets[1]. An organized-gang-related attempted murder investigation ensued, as confirmed by a judicial source. A total of four victims were left to bear the brunt of this senseless violence - three wounded by the gunfire, and a fourth trampled and run over by the assailants' getaway car. Fortunately, the prognosis of the latter victim is no longer critical, as stated by Rennes prosecutor, Frédéric Teillet, on Tuesday[1].
Clash of Drug-Related Clans
Allegedly, the chaos on April 17 emerged as a result of drug trafficking-related clashes. On April 14, a violent takeover by a local group known as the Villejeannais claimed the territory that was previously controlled by a Paris-region syndicate operating on Kennedy square since January[2].
Teitated explained that the shootout was part of a bitter settling of scores stemming from the drug trade[2]. The shootout left three shooting victims and a fourth haphazardly hit by the fleeing gunmen's car, Deliberately targeting the Kennedy square area[1][2].
Arrests and Reinforcements
Three of the suspects were charged with criminal association and attempted murder in an organized gang, each facing a potential life sentence. The fourth was accused of drug trafficking and criminal association, potentially facing up to a decade in prison[1]. All four men had a history of criminal offenses, as revealed by extensive investigations by Rennes' organized crime and specialized division under the supervision of the prosecutor's office[2].
Their ruthless determination to reclaim the drug-dealing turf, as detailed by Teillet, was evident through their weaponry, attire, and modus operandi[2]. The suspects, originating from Tours, Marseille, and the Paris region, demonstrated a readiness to eliminate their competition, recklessly maiming anyone in the vicinity during their brutal takeover.
In light of the shootout in Rennes' Kennedy Square, the general-news outlet Ouest-France reported that suspects from various locations, including Tours, Marseille, and the Paris region, are under investigation for criminal association, attempted murder in an organized gang, and drug trafficking. On Tuesday, Rennes prosecutor Frédéric Teillet provided an update on the prognosis of one of the victims, stating that it is no longer critical. The shootout on April 17 is believed to be a result of drug trafficking-related clashes, with Teillet suggesting that it was part of a bitter settling of scores in the drug trade. The police have opened an organized-gang-related attempted murder investigation, with three suspects facing potential life sentences and the fourth up to a decade in prison, given their criminal history.
