Gangland violence touched the soccer world on Thursday, as Olympique Marseille sporting director José Anigo’s 30-year-old son, Adrien, was shot down in the street in southern France. His is the 15th similar killing in the French city this year and the second in the same day.
Adrien Anigo was murdered as he got out of his car in a rough area of Marseille, the BBC reporting that he was shot several times at point-blank range, at least once in the head, before the suspects fled the area on motorcycles. The Agence France-Presse also reported that he had been arrested once before in connection with a series of armed robberies, but he was released after a “procedural error” in his case.
Marseille police say most of the 15 similar killings have been related to drug trafficking.
Controversial English midfielder Joey Barton, who was on loan last year at Marseille from Queens Park Rangers, took to Twitter to offer José Anigo and the club his condolences:The thoughts of me and my family go out to Josè Anigo, his family and all at Olympique Marseille right now. Sorry to hear the tragic news.
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) September 5, 2013Follow @liviubird