Montreal shooting leaves three dead, including officer and suspect

Montreal was rocked by a midday shooting on Monday, June 22, that claimed the lives of three individuals, including a police officer, a civilian, and the alleged gunman. The rare act of daylight gun violence in Canada has sent shockwaves through the city, particularly as it occurred in a neighborhood with a significant Jewish population, home to kosher markets and restaurants.

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A tragedy, a nightmare

Authorities have declined to comment on the motive behind the attack, leaving open the possibility of it being a hate crime or an act of terror. However, French-language public broadcaster Radio Canada reported that the shooter was allegedly linked to "incel" ideology. This term refers to "involuntarily celibate" men who hold misogynistic views, a mindset previously associated with one of Canada's deadliest mass killings in 2018.

Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher described the incident as a "tragedy, a nightmare." While Canada experiences less gun violence than its southern neighbor, such shootings are not unheard of, but a broad-daylight attack in Montreal is considered highly unusual. Police responded to reports of an active shooting around 11:30 a.m. in the Cote-des-Neiges neighborhood, encountering gunfire from within a building.

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I see the police storm in, come in from everywhere, and, they raise their guns

Witnesses described the chaos, with one man buying paint at a local shop recounting how police stormed the area, weapons drawn, and instructed people to stay down. Another resident heard the initial shots and sought shelter, later witnessing the shooter, who was reportedly dressed in military-style clothing, before police engaged him. The slain officer's partner, a female officer, sustained serious injuries but is expected to survive. Details about the civilian victim remain unclear.

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I was on the street near my home when I heard one shot, then several more. I tried to take shelter in the nearby pizzeria, and that's when I saw the shooter, who looked ready to fire his weapon, dressed in military clothing.