Neighbour accused of murdering Brit girl, 11, after ‘shooting at her family for being too loud’ dies in prison

After firing at her family for being too noisy, a neighbor who was charged with killing an 11-year-old British girl passed away in prison.

In June of last year, Solaine Thornton was playing on a swing when Dirk Raats reportedly fired her in the heart.

After growing “exasperated” with the continuous chainsaw noise, the former instructor allegedly opened fire on the British family at their residence.

According to AFP, Raats’ lawyer claims that Raats, who was not found guilty of the attack, passed away while incarcerated.

Following the outburst, he was charged with both murder and attempted murder.

The vicious shooting took place in the Brittany region of western France, in the village of Plonevez-du-Faou.

Raats used a.22 caliber rifle to fire four rounds, striking Solaine’s mother Rachael, 49, in the head and back, and her father Adrian, 52, in the head.

Celeste, their second eight-year-old daughter, managed to get away unharmed and ran away to Pierre Leroy’s house, their neighbor.

Celeste had run for her life up here after avoiding a bullet, Pierre told the Daily Telegraph. We went right over.

The mother was screaming while holding Solaine in her arms.

Adrian, who was hurt but conscious, was also yelling, but the mother realized it was too late for her daughter.

There were only cries, no words.

Public prosecutor Camille Miansoni stated during a hearing last year: “It appears that he was not targeting the young girl.”

Raats remarked, “It’s so horrible,” before the Brest criminal court. I don’t comprehend it.

According to Miansoni, Raats was annoyed by the Manchester-born Thorntons because they trimmed back plants and trees at the edge of their properties.

According to the prosecutor, the “numerous jobs (the British father) was carrying out on his property”—such as pruning and clearing undergrowth—annoyed the couple.

Marlene van Hook, his 69-year-old Belgian wife, was detained for hiding the murder weapon.

Raats and van Hook later tested positive for alcohol and cannabis use.

At their residence, police discovered ammo for a Winchester.30 caliber rifle and a Winchester.22 rifle believed to have been used during the rampage.

Anne Guillerme, Raats’s attorney, confirmed his death in custody but refrained from commenting further.

According to the Daily Mail, Solaine was previously honored by Grandma Christine Rhodes.

“Solaine was such a sweet girl,” she remarked. Solaine informed me she had been writing for her school newspaper and was really unhappy the previous time I spoke with her.

“She was a unique young child. She cherished everyone. She cherished everyone. She didn’t have a single bad bone in her body and adored her animals. She skipped about and had beautiful huge eyes.

“She was really affectionate. She would simply approach you, give you a hug, and talk to me on the phone while sharing stories about her animals.

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