An amateur mixed martial arts fighter has been identified as the man killed during a violent shooting rampage in the suburbs of Paris on Friday. The victim, 26-year-old Pengo Bossio Wangi, was a member of the Atch Academy in Aubervilliers, north of Paris.
The club confirmed his identity and released a statement on Instagram to honor his memory. “Pengo was one of us,” the academy wrote, remembering his generosity, energy, and smile. The organization further stated that, “Nothing justifies a life being taken like this.”
French authorities have not publicly named the victim, but they have officially characterized the incident as a racially motivated attack. President Emmanuel Macron addressed the event on Friday, describing it as “a racist terror attack” and stating that the victims were targeted specifically due to their “skin color or perceived religion.”
The shooting spree took place across three separate locations in the suburbs of Trappes and La Verrière, where a gunman fired shots from a vehicle. Authorities reported that at least five other people, including a 12-year-old girl, sustained injuries during the rampage.
Law enforcement officials arrested a suspect shortly after the attacks occurred. The case has been transferred to France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s office, which is now leading the investigation.
