Alain Orsoni, 71, a former Corsican separatist leader living in exile in Nicaragua, was fatally shot at his mother's funeral in the village of Vero, Corsica. He was hit in the chest by a single bullet fired from a distance as the funeral ended on Monday afternoon. Corsican prosecutor Nicolas Septe said, "It would appear he was hit by a long-range shot. He died pretty quickly from his injuries." Father Roger-Dominique Polge, who led the funeral service, described the shock: "Suddenly we hear a gunshot and Alain falls down dead. In the middle of a cemetery, after a religious ceremony, I ask where are we, what kind of home are we living in? It's as if Corsica is worse than Sicily - it's unimaginable." The motive for the killing is unknown. Orsoni was a notable figure in Corsican politics and crime. Authorities are investigating with national anti-organised crime prosecutors and the Marseille-based crime office. A police source told Le Monde there are similarities to recent gangland killings tied to Orsoni's son, Guy. Guy Orsoni, jailed for 13 years for attempted murder, lost two associates to shootings in 2023. Alain Orsoni was known for his nationalist role in the 1970s and 80s. He took part in a 1980 attack on the Iranian embassy and founded the Movement for Self-Determination, winning seats in 1992 but barred from office due to campaign issues. Orsoni spent time in jail, fled to Central America in 1996, and returned to Corsica in 2008 as president of football club AC Ajaccio. After surviving a 2008 assassination attempt, he left again in exile until 2022. Despite dangers and losses in his circle, Orsoni said in 2012, "I'm not afraid of dying... I'm portrayed as a godfather, even though I don't even own a business on Corsica." His violent death at a solemn moment has shocked Corsica and exposed ongoing crime clan battles.