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Canada got another grim reminder Monday that violent crime does not stop at the border.
A deadly shooting in the highly Jewish area in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges district left three people dead, including a police officer and a civilian, after a gunman opened fire from a hotel. Authorities say the suspect, armed with a long gun, was also killed during the incident.
Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher confirmed that a second officer suffered serious injuries but remains in stable condition. Officials have not yet determined who fired the shot that killed the civilian.
The chaos began around 11:35 a.m. when someone called 911 to report a man sticking a firearm out of a window at the Hilton hotel. Responding officers quickly came under fire upon arrival.
"It’s a very, very sad day," Dagher told reporters. "It’s a nightmare."
The police chief noted that it has been 24 years since a Montreal police officer was killed in the line of duty. It isn't known exactly how many years or hours have gone by since Jews were targeted.
Authorities issued a citywide emergency alert urging residents to shelter in place, lock their doors, and stay away from windows while police secured the area. The alert remained active for several hours before being lifted shortly after 3 p.m.
Witnesses described a scene that rapidly descended into panic.
"When the first round of shots went off, we thought it was construction because there’s two big construction sites in the area," said local resident Brandon Benchimol-Elkaim. "In the park that’s in between the complex, parents were yanking their kids off of the park play structure and running. So something didn’t feel right."
Moments later, he said, the true nature of the situation became impossible to ignore.
"Right outside our window, we saw them going into the grocery store, guns drawn, hiding behind cars and SWAT team arrived shortly after. And since then, it’s been a ghost town out here."
The neighborhood, known for its dense mix of residential buildings, businesses, and diverse communities, was effectively locked down as police conducted their operation. Quebec transportation officials closed portions of the Décarie Expressway and other major routes, while significant sections of two Montreal metro lines were also shut down.
Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière expressed sympathy for the victims and their families but declined to comment further on the police response, citing his previous service with the Montreal police force.
Investigators are still working to determine what motivated the attack. Officials believe the suspect acted alone and have found no evidence suggesting a second shooter was involved.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The identity of the now dead shooter has not been made public.
Update: The killed civilian was identified as Rabbi Michael Moshe Mizrahi, a Jewish local and member of the local Chabad center, the Jewish organization announced.
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