Gunman Kills Police Officer and Civilian in Montreal Before Being Fatally Shot
A violent attack in a Montreal neighborhood left a law enforcement agent, an innocent bystander, and the perpetrator dead.
Gunman Kills Police Officer and Civilian in Montreal Before Being Fatally Shot
Gunfire broke out Monday morning in a Montreal district known as Côte-des-Neiges, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Among the deceased were a uniformed male constable, an uninvolved member of the public, and the armed individual who initiated the violence. A second officer, a woman, suffered grave wounds but medical staff indicated she would recover.
The city's top law enforcement official, Fady Dagher, arrived visibly shaken. He labeled the occurrence a tragedy beyond words. Patrol units had been dispatched shortly before noon following emergency calls about an active shooter situation.
Upon reaching the location, personnel became engaged in a shootout. The hostile party had positioned himself within a structure and discharged a rifle-style weapon, according to Dagher's account to journalists gathered at the site.
A septuagenarian shopper named Frank Vogas had entered a paint store in the vicinity moments before chaos ensued. He recounted seeing armed responders pour into the area, weapons drawn, while instructing those inside the shop to lie flat on the ground. Vogas remarked to AFP that nothing in his experience had prepared him for such a scene.
The targeted zone contains numerous establishments and services connected to the Jewish faith, including grocery stores adhering to kosher standards, dining venues, educational facilities, and a charitable food distribution center. These circumstances fueled immediate online theories about whether bias against Jews played a role.
Rabbi Gezy Markowitz, employed in the vicinity, discouraged such speculation. He characterized the event as an assault on police rather than a communal attack, noting that drawing conclusions without evidence would be irresponsible.
Chief Dagher echoed this restraint. He verified that the deceased attacker had donned apparel resembling military garb but emphasized that detectives had uncovered no indication of intent. He appealed for caution regarding unverified information circulating publicly.
At the national level, Prime Minister Mark Carney voiced profound disturbance. Quebec's provincial leader, Christine Frechette, similarly conveyed being rattled by the bloodshed and asked citizens to permit investigators to proceed without interference from unfounded theories.
Security forces had initially cordoned off the vicinity and advised inhabitants to remain sheltered. By mid-afternoon, however, the restriction lifted and normal movement resumed.
Source: Bangkok Post
Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)