Paul Dekeister Death, Wormhout – In a tragic and senseless act of violence, the quiet village of Wormhout, near Dunkirk, was shaken to its core on Saturday afternoon when Paul D., a 22-year-old former employee, brutally ended the life of 29-year-old Paul Dekeister. The attack, described as a calculated assassination by local authorities, took place in the sanctuary of Dekeister’s own home, in front of his wife and two young children.
The horrifying event unfolded around 3 p.m. when Paul D. arrived at Dekeister’s farmhouse, a place he had once worked in a security role. In what can only be described as a deeply disturbing escalation of a personal dispute, Paul D. entered the house and shot Dekeister in cold blood, leaving his family witnesses to an unspeakable horror.
Dekeister, a well-liked figure in the local community, was known for his dedication to his work and his family. Those who knew him have been left devastated, struggling to make sense of the tragedy. “He was always kind and welcoming,” said a neighbor. “To imagine his family having to go through something like this, it’s unbearable.”
Following the attack on Dekeister, Paul D.’s violent spree continued. Fueled by what authorities have described as a “deep-seated resentment,” Paul D. drove toward the migrant camp near Loon-Plage. It was here that he targeted two Kurdish men, ages 19 and 30, both reportedly of Iranian descent. These men, like so many others in the camp, were seeking refuge from the violence and instability in their homeland, only to encounter it once again in the most horrifying way.
Paul D. shot both men at point-blank range, robbing them of any chance of survival. However, the tragedy did not end there. A third man, Matin, aged 25, survived the attack and later spoke of the harrowing experience. “At first, we thought the gunman would shoot into the air, but then he loaded his weapon and aimed at us,” Matin recounted, his voice shaking as he recalled the moment. “We saw Azrael, the Angel of Death. We faced death twice in a single day, but somehow, we survived.” His words serve as a stark reminder of the terror that gripped those at the scene.
But Paul D. was not finished. His rampage carried on, this time targeting two security guards who were working along the northern coastline of France. The guards, Marc Lehmus, 37, and Aurélien Cugny, 33, both fathers, were employed by Eamus Cork Security and were assisting the police in patrolling the area. In yet another brutal and seemingly senseless act, Paul D. gunned down both men, leaving behind grieving families and a community that is struggling to come to terms with the overwhelming loss.
Marc Lehmus and Aurélien Cugny had committed their lives to protecting others, and their deaths have left a void in the hearts of their loved ones. “Marc was the kind of man who would give the shirt off his back to help someone,” said a close friend. “He loved his family more than anything in this world, and now they’re left without him.” Aurélien’s family, too, has been left devastated. “He was always so proud of his job and his kids. He didn’t deserve this,” a family member shared through tears.
As authorities work to piece together the motives behind Paul D.’s violent actions, the community of Wormhout, and indeed the wider region, is left grappling with a wave of grief and shock. What began as a tragic killing of a beloved community member has spiraled into a series of brutal attacks that have claimed the lives of innocent people, leaving families torn apart and the entire village reeling.
While the investigation is ongoing, many are left with the difficult task of trying to rebuild in the wake of such a devastating loss. The pain of the families affected by this tragedy will no doubt linger for years to come, but the community has already begun to rally together in support of one another, determined to find strength in the face of overwhelming sorrow.
In the end, the senseless violence of Paul D.’s actions has left behind nothing but pain and heartache. What should have been a quiet Saturday in Wormhout has now become a haunting memory that will never be forgotten.