French Woman Found Dead After Armed Standoff with Husband in Marne

The GIGN apprehended a former police officer, previously convicted of domestic violence, following a standoff that ended with the discovery of his wife's body.

The GIGN intervened in Esternay, Marne, after a septuagenarian man barricaded himself in his basement with a firearm on March 29, 2025.
The man, a former police officer, exited the basement pointing his weapon and was subdued with a non-lethal shot before being taken into custody.
Authorities discovered the body of the man's wife, who had been killed by a firearm, inside the house following the standoff.
An investigation for spousal homicide has been launched; the man had a prior conviction for domestic violence in 2012, for which he received a suspended sentence.
This case has reignited discussions about domestic violence and femicide in France, with 96 femicides reported in 2023, a 19% decrease from 2022.