A profound sense of grief has enveloped the French city of Nice following the brutal murder of a 23-year-old woman, identified only as Lizabete, who was fatally shot multiple times while her infant daughter sat unharmed in the vehicle. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday at a city intersection, has prompted swift legal action, with a primary suspect now facing murder charges.
According to official statements from prosecutor Damien Martinelli, the alleged perpetrator—a 45-year-old Portuguese national—has been placed in pre-trial detention after being formally charged with murder on Sunday. Investigators believe the suspect was previously involved with Lizabete’s stepmother, adding a layer of domestic complexity to the tragedy.
The attack unfolded when the assailant, riding a scooter, approached Lizabete’s car at point-blank range near a local high school and fired repeatedly into the vehicle. Despite the immediate response of emergency services, the young mother could not be revived. Miraculously, her seven-month-old daughter, Ayla, secured in a baby seat beside her, emerged physically unscathed.
Notably, the suspect had recently been in police custody for aggravated assault against his former partner and was under a court order to avoid contact with her. He was rearrested Saturday afternoon on the outskirts of Grasse, approximately 40 kilometers from Nice.
In response to the killing, the Nice municipal government held a public vigil on Friday to honor Lizabete’s memory. The city has also committed to granting her daughter ward-of-the-state status, ensuring support and care throughout her upbringing.