A Montreal police officer was killed during a shootout on Monday, leading to a tense situation in which city residents were advised to stay indoors for nearly three hours. Authorities were initially in pursuit of a second suspect, creating urgency and caution among the community.
According to police reports, one gunman died at the scene. Due to initial uncertainty, residents were instructed to remain inside. Later, the police confirmed that there was only one attacker, alleviating public fear. Fady Dagher, the Montreal police chief, assured the public that the immediate threat was no longer present.
The incident occurred in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood, close to a high-rise building containing several commercial units including a grocery store and a restaurant. Chief Dagher revealed that the police responded to calls about a firearm being pointed from a hotel window. Upon arrival, officers were met with gunfire, resulting in a shootout.
Tragically, one officer was fatally shot while another officer and a civilian were injured. Chief Dagher expressed his sorrow, noting that the city had not seen an officer killed in the line of duty for 24 years.
In response to the incident, the province of Quebec issued an emergency alert shortly after 12:30 p.m., urging people to stay away from windows and secure their homes as there was concern about a potential armed suspect at large.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada conveyed her condolences through social media, expressing sympathy for the fallen officer’s family, colleagues, and friends.
Mordy Aisenstark, a manager at a nearby pizza restaurant, described hearing gunshots at around 11:30 a.m. He took swift action by leading his employees out through the back of the store to safety. From a distance, he later saw the alleged shooter in camouflage lying motionless next to a weapon. Once law enforcement arrived, Aisenstark and his team were instructed to shelter in place within a bathroom.
Ian Lafrenière, Quebec’s minister of domestic security, announced at a news conference that full police resources were dedicated to the investigation, though specific motives for the suspect’s actions remained unknown.