In Marseille, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, a 20-year-old man, the younger brother of Amine Kessaci, was shot dead near the Dôme around 2:30 PM. Two individuals on a motorcycle opened fire before fleeing. The Marseille prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation for organized gang murder and criminal conspiracy. The possibility of intimidation targeting Amine Kessaci, a 22-year-old environmental activist and founder of Conscience, is considered, without conclusive evidence.
At 2:30 PM, a targeted attack near the Dôme
According to initial reports, two helmeted individuals approached a stationary vehicle. The passenger fired several shots with a handgun. 9 mm casings were found at the scene. The perpetrators fled on a motorcycle. The exact location is near the Dôme, at the border of the 4th and 5th districts, a detail that remains to be confirmed. The victim, identified as Mehdi or Mohamed Kessaci name to be confirmed, was unknown to police and judicial services.
The Marseille prosecutor, Nicolas Bessone, indicates that he does not rule out the hypothesis of a "warning assassination." He calls for caution, reminding that the direction of the case will depend on the evidence gathered by the judicial police.
Confirmed facts and points to clarify
Confirmed: A 20-year-old man was killed by a handgun. Additionally, 9 mm casings were seized. Furthermore, two suspects arrived on a motorcycle and fled immediately. Consequently, an investigation is opened for organized gang murder and criminal conspiracy. Finally, the victim’s criminal record was clean.
To clarify: Exact name of the victim, precise location, between the 4th and 5th district, motive, possible link with Amine Kessaci’s activities, motorcycle’s trajectory after the incident, origin of the weapon.
Family context and public reactions
The Kessaci family has already been affected by a homicide: in 2020, Brahim Kessaci, the older brother, was killed in a triple murder, his body found charred. The trial for this case is announced within the year. Amine Kessaci, 22 years old, became known for his involvement with Conscience and the recent publication of Marseille, Wipe Your Tears.
The Marseille city hall reacted through Benoît Payan, expressing support and condolences. The mayor indicated that the victim wanted to become a police officer. Christine Juste, an environmental deputy, and Marine Tondelier (EELV) also reacted, emphasizing the situation of young people exposed to violence and reminding the need to let the investigation proceed.
Modus operandi and lines of inquiry
The sequence of events approaching on a motorcycle, repeated close-range shots, quick escape refers to frequent methods in settling scores cases in Marseille. This similarity is not enough, however, to determine the motive or establish a link with specific criminal networks. Investigators are conducting the usual checks: exploitation of video surveillance, geolocation and phone tracking, requests to operators, ballistic analyses, interviews.
The so-called warning assassination hypothesis is being studied. Indeed, the victim was not known to the police. Thus, he may have been targeted to send a message. This hypothesis has no autonomous legal value and remains conditioned on the material evidence that will be gathered.
What the law says
The organized gang is characterized by a structure and preparation before the acts. The criminal conspiracy punishes the concertation. Indeed, it aims to commit a crime or an offense punishable by at least five years. Assassination implies premeditation. These qualifications justify enhanced investigative means and heavier penalties. In this case, they allow the mobilization of specialized units of the judicial police and broaden the scope of requests.
Testimonies and immediate environment
Testimonies report a motorcycle quickly leaving the scene. Some businesses closed earlier. Urban cleanliness services intervened. No exploitable description of the perpetrators has been communicated at this stage. Witness statements will be cross-referenced and exploited with the available video recordings.
Points of vigilance and next steps
- Formal identification of the victim, name to be confirmed.
- Exact location of the events to be specified, between the 4th and 5th district.
- Establishing the motive: possible intimidation, other dispute, or absence of proven link.
- Search for the weapon and escape routes.
- Exploitation of video recordings and phone data, ballistic analyses.
The prosecutor’s office will communicate new elements as findings and expert reports are made.
Reference points for understanding
Marseille faces violence related to trafficking. These are handled by specialized units. Additionally, a prosecutor’s office structures long-term cases. The criminal qualifications of organized gang, criminal conspiracy, and assassination specify the framework of the investigation. In the coming days, the focus will be on material evidence rather than interpretations.
What we know, what remains uncertain
At this stage, established facts and gray areas coexist: documented modus operandi, identity to confirm, motive undetermined. The judicial police continues its investigations under the authority of the Marseille prosecutor’s office. New information is expected as expert reports and image extractions progress. The article will be updated based on official statements and judicial decisions.