“I thought she was going to die”: after the attempted murder in Nice, the neighbor who welcomed the victim testifies

“Attempted homicide.” The seal suggests the drama that took place behind this door, Thursday, November 16 in the evening, on the eighth and last floor of a building in the Ariane district, in Nice-Est.

The name of the occupant appears there. Jose, 53, is suspected of shooting Maria, 48. Three shots. Two projectiles ended up in a wall, a third hit her in the head. Small caliber, potentially 6.35. Fortunately, the bullet did not pass through the skull.

The drama unfolded on Chemin de Saint-Pierre, in the presence of three children aged 18, 14 and 10 respectively. He leaves Maria’s neighbor in shock. She was the one who took in the victim. “It was 10:30 p.m. She came knocking on my door, panicked, with her son”testifies this neighbor. “She was full of blood. She was holding her neck, she had placed a towel on it. She was crying. She was saying ‘I‘I’m in pain, I’m in pain’…”

The corridor was also stained with blood. This Friday morning, the neighbors cleaned everything up. The towel stained with brown stains still lies on the stairs. The departmental security police officers carry out the traditional neighborhood investigation, trying to understand what happened behind closed doors at the family. The suspected shooter is actively sought.

Reassuring state of health for the victim

“I didn’t see him”testifies the neighbor. “He’s a very nice man. When he passes by, he helps you. I’ve never seen them argue. I don’t understand… But now, I hope he’s going to take it dearly.”

Maria? “She is very kind”smiles his neighbor. “A great woman, helpful, hardworking. I love her very much!” According to her, the victim called her around 1 a.m. from his hospital bed. “She asked me to go see her children. I went upstairs. The police were there. Maria told me: ‘I’m staying in the hospital so they can watch over me.'”

This Friday morning, the news of his state of health is much more reassuring than the first information suggested. His vital prognosis is not in jeopardy. She might even leave the hospital quickly. But given the sensitivity of the affected area, it remains, for the moment, under close observation.

“She doesn’t deserve this.”

In the neighborhood, a stone’s throw from the Ariane police station, the atmosphere is calm the day after the tragedy. Local residents were stunned to hear the news. “It’s crazy!”exclaims a trader, who knows the suspect by sight. “He’s pretty cool.” In his opinion, nothing suggested such domestic violence.

“I was panicked, shocked,” shuddered the neighbor, just as surprised. “It hurts my heart to see her like this. I thought she was going to die. She doesn’t deserve this. May God lay his hands on her!”