A young girl was shot dead by a man in front of her parents after a dispute between neighbors.

The shocking killing that rocked the local community took place in the French village of Saint-Herbot where 11-year-old Solaine Thornton was shot dead by a rifle-wielding neighbor while playing on the swing at her home with her younger sister.

According to the reports, the shooting took place at around 10 pm on Saturday, and the gunman was identified as Dirk Raats, A 71-year-old Dutch national and a neighbor of the British family.

While the motive for the shooting and the circumstances leading to the brutal killing of the young girl remains unclear, the authorities said the old man shot at the family, including the girl’s parents, several times after a dispute.

“How is she going to get over that? It will live with her forever,” Solaine’s grandfather, Irvin Thornton, told the media as he recalled his late granddaughter’s younger sister screaming “My sister is dead, my sister is dead!” after the shooting.

Thornton further revealed that his son, Adrien, remains in a coma after being shot in the head by the out-of-control neighbor. The man’s wife, Rachael, was also shot twice.

Solaine’s sister, 8-year-old Celeste, managed to survive the ordeal unscathed.

Following the shocking murder/attempted murder, Raats has been taken into custody and charged with murder and attempted murder.

It has since also come to light that the police found a large amount of marijuana at the 71-year-old’s home during a search.

“We don’t know exactly what has gone on. We didn’t know anything about a dispute. How can a 71-year-old man shoot a little girl?” Thornton added in an interview with MailOnline.

“There might have been dispute over land but you do not do that. She didn’t stand a chance.

“And in front of her sister. How is she going to get over that? It will live with her forever.”

Our thoughts remain with the Thornton family during this challenging time.