An Iranian bride was shot dead by a stray bullet during a round of celebratory gunfire at her own wedding.
The freak accident took place at the wedding hall in Firuzabad, Iran, according to reports.
Mahvash Leghaei had just tied the knot when a male guest decided to mark the occasion by using his unlicensed high-powered hunting rifle to fire off some ceremonial gunshots — a custom that’s banned in Iran.
"We had an emergency call of a shooting at a wedding hall in Firuzabad city and officers were dispatched immediately," Police spokesman Colonel Mehdi Jokar said.
An initial investigation revealed that two bullets were fired, the first without incident, but the second striking the bride in the head, passing through her brain, and hitting two other guests.
"The officers discovered that somebody had fired shots with a hunting rifle as part of the local nomad tradition, but unfortunately because of the crowds and the person's poor control of the weapon, he managed to shoot three people, two men, and the bride," Jokar said.
The 24-year-old bride went into a coma and later succumbed to her wounds. The two others victims were not seriously injured, reports said.
The shooter who fled the scene with the murder weapon in hand was quickly located and arrested by the police.
He was not formally named but has been identified as a 36-year-old and reportedly the groom’s cousin.
"Naturally any disturbance of public order like this crosses the red line with the police need to act, and people need to know that to create a safe community shooting is banned at weddings," Jokar added.
"We will take tough action against anybody found to be breaking this rule."
Leghaei had been a social worker who helped drug users beat their addictions. In line with her wishes, the victim’s family said her organs were donated and they have helped three people.
Despite being illegal, the custom of firing a gun at weddings is still common in the Middle East.
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