After responding to a burglary report in a small village in southern France, two female paramilitary police were shot dead Sunday night when they confronted the suspect at his house and he attacked them.

The suspect, a 25-year-old man, has been arrested in the village of Collobrieres for the murder of the two gendarmes, ages 29 and 35.

The gendarmes approached the man at his house after being alerted that he may have been involved in a prior burglary. An argument quickly ensued and the man knocked one of the gendarmes to the ground, took her pistol and shot her.

He then gave pursuit to the other gendarme, who apparently fled, and gunned her down as well.

Another women, the suspect's girlfriend, was also detained in relation to the shootings.