"It is a real war scene that we have all been confronted with this morning" evokes Eric Maillaud, the Public Prosecutor of Clermont-Ferrand.
"Hundreds and hundreds of cartridge cases, the house burned down, an overarmed individual, it is truly a completely atypical scene" he adds.
During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, three gendarmes were killed and a fourth injured by a madman in Saint-Just, in Puy-de-Dôme, while they intervened to rescue a woman threatened by his companion, him - even found dead in the early morning near his vehicle.
"The gendarmes shelter the victim under fire from Mr. Limol and it is therefore in this context that four gendarmes will be shot and we will have three dead" explains the Prosecutor.
Arno Mavel, Cyrille Morel, Rémi Dupuis
Excluding terrorism, "it is one of the most tragic events" in the history of the gendarmerie, recalled the Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin, who came on the spot to support the comrades of the victims, their widows and to the four children who are now fatherless.
The victims are Brigadier Arno Mavel (21), Lieutenant Cyrille Morel (45) and Warrant Officer Rémi Dupuis (37), the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Some 300 soldiers, including a mobile gendarmerie squadron, as well as dog brigades and a helicopter had been deployed during the night to try to apprehend the suspect.
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
The 48-year-old man was finally "found dead," said Gerald Darmanin, without specifying the circumstances of the suspect's death.
The body of Frédérik L. was discovered near his car, not far from his home.
A priori, it would be a suicide, we added in the entourage of the minister.