Iranian woman dies at her wedding after being hit in the head by a stray bullet

An Iranian bride tragically died during her wedding after being hit by a stray bullet while a round of celebratory gunfire was underway, the New York Post reported Monday.

Mahvash Leghaei, 24, had just gotten married when a guest decided to celebrate by firing a few shots into the air from his high-powered hunting rifle, a custom that is illegal but still common in the Middle East.

While the first shot went off without incident, a second round went through Leghaei's skull and brain before striking two men who were among the guests, according to reports cited by the Post.

The bride went into a coma and then succumbed to her injuries. The other two victims survived with minor injuries. 

"We received an emergency call of a shooting at a wedding hall in Firuzabad city and officers were immediately dispatched," police spokesman Col. Mehdi Jokar said, according to local media quoted by the Daily Mail.

"The officers discovered that someone had fired with a hunting rifle as part of local tradition, but unfortunately, due to the crowd and the person's poor control of the weapon, he shot three people, two men, and the bride," Jokar added.

The shooter fled the scene but was later located while still carrying the unlicensed hunting rifle he had fired at the wedding. His identity has not been released. 

"Naturally, any public disturbance similar to what happened makes it necessary for the police to act. People need to know that in order to create a safe community, shooting at weddings is prohibited," Jokar said. "We will take stern action against anyone who violates this rule."

Leghaei was a social worker who helped people with drug problems. Following her wishes, the victim's family has donated her organs to three recipients.