Montreal Deadly Shooting
Montreal Grocery Store Shooting Kills Officer, Wounds Others; Attacker Fatally Shot as Investigation Continues
Key Points
The gunman was dressed in camouflage and appeared to be carrying a semi-automatic rifle, with witnesses describing as many as 30 gunshots during the confrontation, which was captured in scene footage.
The attack unfolded in Côte-des-Neiges near Decarie Boulevard and Westbury Avenue, an area with several Chabad centers, Jewish schools and kosher establishments; authorities stressed the area itself was not necessarily targeted.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for the area around 12:30 p.m. local time as the investigation unfolded.
Video footage from the scene shows two officers confronting the gunman, including a moment where one officer is seen lying motionless on the ground amid the gunfire.
A gunman opened fire near a strip of kosher stores in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood on Monday, killing a police officer and a civilian before officers fatally shot him. Constable Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, became the first Montreal officer killed in the line of duty in 24 years, according to CBC News. The civilian victim, Michael Moshe Mizrahi, 42, a ZAKA volunteer and member of the local Jewish community, later died after emergency surgery, The Jerusalem Post reported.
SPVM Police Chief Fady Dagher called it "a nightmare" at a press conference Monday. A second officer and a bystander were also wounded. The suspect, who traveled from Alberta armed with an SKS semi-automatic rifle and dressed in military camouflage, was shot dead at the scene. Witnesses reported hearing between 30 and 40 rounds fired during the confrontation, according to Global News.
Officer Ambushed Minutes After First 911 Call
The attack began at 11:35 a.m. when a 911 caller reported a man with a long gun visible in a window at a Hilton hotel on Décarie Boulevard, according to AP. Officers arrived within minutes and were immediately ambushed. The suspect had already exited the building and opened fire near the MADA Community Centre and several kosher shops. Video from the scene shows one officer lying motionless on the ground as shots continue to ring out.
By 12:30 p.m., a region-wide emergency alert went out to cell phones. Residents bounded by Côte-des-Neiges Road, MacDonald Street, Highway 40, and Queen Mary Road were told to shelter in place and lock their doors, SPVM confirmed. Over 100 people were sheltered inside the Chabad MADA centre alone during the roughly three-hour lockdown, according to Algemeiner. Police lifted the order at 3:00 p.m. after confirming no second shooter was present.
Jewish Neighborhood on Edge, But Police Say Jews Not Targeted
Côte-des-Neiges is home to Chabad centers, Jewish schools like Beth Rivkah, and dozens of kosher businesses. The proximity of the shooting to those institutions triggered immediate fear of an antisemitic attack. Quebec's Minister of Public Security Ian Lafrenière said early evidence pointed to an ambush targeting police, not a hate crime against the Jewish community, according to Times of Israel.
Community leaders noted a chilling near-miss. Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Cohen pointed out that a nearby girls' school had ended its term early that day. Had it not, the street would have been crowded with children during the gunfight, Chabad.org reported. Local synagogues and schools announced a temporary increase in private security while the investigation continues.
Incel Manifesto Found as Motive Remains Under Investigation
Investigators found a lengthy manifesto with the suspect, who reportedly drove from Alberta to Quebec before the attack. Sources cited by Radio-Canada say the document aligns with "incel" ideology — a term for men who express resentment toward women and society. Officials have not formally confirmed a motive. Minister Lafrenière said early in the day that the attack did not appear linked to international terrorism.
Security analysts told PJ Media the ambush style of the attack — targeting first responders directly — points to a high-casualty or "suicide-by-cop" intent typical of radicalized lone actors. The suspect's travel across provincial lines and his use of a semi-automatic SKS rifle are expected to reignite federal debates on firearm laws and inter-provincial movement of persons of concern, according to ibtimes.sg.
Political Leaders Mourn First Officer Death in Over Two Decades
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette both expressed shock after the shooting, according to The Jerusalem Post. Fréchette ordered flags at the National Assembly lowered to half-mast and urged the public to avoid speculation while the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes — Quebec's independent police watchdog — investigates the officers' use of force.
Constable Benredouane joined the SPVM in 2021. His death is the third Canadian officer killed in the line of duty in 2026, according to CBC News. Chief Dagher said the SPVM would review response protocols for calls involving long-range weapons, given how quickly officers were ambushed after arriving on scene.
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