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Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, who had served with Montreal police since 2021, was killed in the line of duty.
Officer and civilian among three killed in Montreal hotel shooting
A midday shooting in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood left three people killed Monday, including a Montreal police officer, a civilian bystander and the suspected gunman.
Police said officers were called to the area near a Hilton hotel shortly after 11:30 a.m. after a witness reported seeing a gun pointed from a window. When officers arrived, they were met with gunfire from a male suspect armed with a long gun.
Michael Moshe Mizrahi, a member of Montreal's Jewish community, was the civilian killed in the shooting.
Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher said the suspect is believed to have acted alone. Officers returned fire, and the gunman was killed at the scene. A second police officer was seriously injured and later reported to be in stable condition.
A midday shooting in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood left three people dead, including a police officer, a civilian bystander and the suspected gunman.
The officer killed was identified as Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34. He had served with Montreal police since 2021. The department said flags would be lowered to half-staff in his honour and described him as a dedicated officer known for his professionalism and commitment to the job.
Speaking to reporters after the shooting, Dagher became emotional and called the incident a "nightmare." He said it was the first time in nearly 24 years that a Montreal police officer had been killed in the line of duty.
The civilian killed in the attack was identified by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs as Michael Moshe Mizrahi, who was described as a beloved member of Montreal's Jewish community. Police have not said the attack was antisemitic.
Police have not publicly confirmed which officer fired the shot that struck Mizrahi. We have requested incident records from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal as well as the investigation by Quebec's independent police watchdog, and the officer has been identified as Laura Filcher.
Videos shared online appeared to show a person in olive-coloured or military-style clothing carrying a long gun and exchanging fire with officers near the hotel. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as police rushed into the area and people nearby took shelter inside businesses.
Local resident Danny Wilk told reporters he heard shots near his home before taking cover in a nearby pizzeria. He said he saw the armed suspect dressed in military-style clothing and later saw an officer on the ground before police shot the attacker.
Another witness working near the scene said he heard dozens of gunshots as officers arrived in large numbers.
The motive remains unclear. Quebec Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière said officials were not ready to comment on the suspect's identity or possible motive because the case is under investigation.
After the shooting, the RCMP reportedly sent an alert to police forces across Canada warning about a possible document encouraging violence against officers. The BBC reported that it had not independently confirmed the existence of that document.
French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada reported that the gunman may have been influenced by the misogynistic "incel" movement. Authorities have not confirmed that as the official motive.
Officials said multiple agencies, including the RCMP, were consulted before investigators concluded the shooting was not being treated as a terrorist attack.
The incident caused major disruption in the area. Traffic near a busy motorway was stopped, local metro service was briefly halted and Quebec issued an emergency alert warning residents about an armed suspect. The alert was lifted later in the afternoon.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was horrified by the violence and offered condolences to the victims' families, first responders and the Côte-des-Neiges community.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette also expressed condolences and urged the public not to speculate while the investigation continues.
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.
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