A groom was shot dead at his own wedding after his aunt grabbed her husband’s gun to fire bullets into the air in celebration.
The fatal shooting happened in Turpcu village, in the Sebinkarahisar district of Giresun Province in Turkey, as bride Beyzanur Beyazit and her new husband Ali Karaca were being escorted home from their wedding ceremony on 27th August.
As relatives gathered outside the wedding hall and climbed into cars to form a motorcade around the newlyweds, celebratory shots were fired into the air.
Picture shows the groom Ali Karaca and the bride Beyzanur Beyazıt, undated. He was killed during a post wedding celebration in Giresun, Turkey. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
Wanting to join in the fun, the wife of the groom's uncle, 47-year-old Fatma Karaca, took her husband’s gun and tried to join in.
In her statement to police, Fatma said: “I took my husband’s gun to celebrate. I wanted to shoot into the air, but the gun suddenly went off.
"When I saw Ali was shot and covered in blood, I fainted from shock. I'm so sorry; I wish I hadn't picked up the gun."
The bullet struck Ali, 23, in the chest and panic broke out when the shocked guests realised what had happened.
He was rushed to Sebinkarahisar State Hospital, but despite the efforts of medics he was declared dead shortly after arrival.
The young groom was buried yesterday (THUR) in his home village, where relatives and neighbours attended his funeral in mourning.
Police detained Fatma Karaca and her husband, 50-year-old Halil Karaca. During a search of their property, officers seized two unlicensed pistols, including the weapon used in the shooting.
Picture shows the groom Ali Karaca and the bride Beyzanur Beyazıt, undated. He was killed during a post wedding celebration in Giresun, Turkey. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
Fatma Karaca has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by negligence, an offence under Turkish Penal Code Article 85 that carries a penalty of between two and six years in prison.
Her husband faces charges relating to the possession of unlicensed firearms.
In Turkey, firing guns at weddings is illegal, even though it is still a common tradition in some rural and provincial areas. Each year, several people are reported injured at weddings by stray bullets.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)