Alain Orsoni, 71, a former nationalist leader, was fatally shot during his mother's funeral service in Vero, Corsica. The incident occurred as mourners gathered in the village, a half-hour drive from Ajaccio, the capital of the Mediterranean island. Orsoni, who had returned from exile in Nicaragua to attend the funeral, was struck by a single shot fired from nearby scrubland, according to AFP reports.

The killing has shocked residents of Corsica, an island already grappling with a high murder rate. In the past three years, 35 people have been fatally shot on the island of 350,000, giving it one of France's highest murder rates, according to Chris Bockman. While Corsicans have grown accustomed to vendettas and underworld shootings, the brazen nature of Orsoni's assassination has stunned many.

Corsica, known for its natural beauty, has a history of organized crime and clan violence. The island's nationalist movement has also been linked to violence in the past. Orsoni himself was a prominent figure in Corsican nationalism.

Yesterday, Alain Orsoni was cremated after a funeral service in Ajaccio, under a large police presence. Close friend Jo Peraldi expressed disbelief at the events surrounding Orsoni's death. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.