What happened Monday afternoon at Pouyastruc in the Hautes-Pyrenees, a small village?
Two teachers from Tarbes College were shot to death by a man and a women.
A 32-year old woman, a French teacher, was found dead in her street in the town of 720 people by her neighbors, who immediately reported to the gendarmes. The gendarmes found a 55-year-old man in the village who was a teacher at Tarbes' sports school. He died shortly thereafter.
The Tarbes research brigade was entrusted with a double homicide investigation.
A source close to the investigation claims that the double murder was the result of a love rivalry. According to a source close to the investigation, the suspect is the teacher's companion as well as the father of her children. The couple lived in Barbazan-Dessus, and were in the process to separate. The man, around 30 years old, would have traveled on a motorcycle to kill the teachers at the Desaix college located in the center of Tarbes.
Aurelie Pardon and Gabriel Fourmigue were French and physical education teachers, respectively. His sporting achievements were what made him famous, originally from the Gers. He was the winner of the world junior bobsleigh title, and represented France at the Winter Olympics, Albertville, 1992, and Lillehammer, Norway in 1994.
The suspect remains under surveillance. To locate the suspect, "sixty Gendarmes" have been mobilized. The Toulouse Forensic Institute will be performing autopsies on the victims in the coming days.
Education Minister Pap Nyaye said that there was a "reaction of sadness" and "compassion for the students, teachers and colleagues." He was visiting Champigny-sur-Marne, Val-de-Marne. He said, "As for those remaining, it is an unfortunate incident, compassion, and sympathy go to all who know them."
According to a press release, Mostafa Fourar (rector of Toulouse academy) went with Rodrigue Furcy (prefect of Hautes-Pyrenees). He expressed his "very strong emotion and immense sadness" at the event.
Desaix College has a psychological support unit that was established Tuesday for students, parents, and teachers who are in shock.
