Additional Coverage:
Montreal Police Officer Killed in Hotel Shooting; Suspect Also Dead
MONTREAL – A tragic shooting unfolded Monday at a Montreal hotel, resulting in the death of a police officer and the suspect, police confirmed. The incident occurred in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood when a man armed with a long gun opened fire, prompting a deadly exchange with responding officers.
Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher reported that a second officer sustained serious injuries but is currently in stable condition. The suspect was fatally shot by police at the scene. Authorities also confirmed that a civilian died during the incident, though it remains unclear who fired the fatal shot.
“This is the first time in 24 years that a Montreal police officer has been killed in the line of duty,” Chief Dagher stated solemnly. “It’s a very, very sad day. It’s a nightmare.”
The sequence began shortly after 11:30 a.m. when emergency services received a call about an individual brandishing a firearm from a window at the Hilton hotel. Police arrived swiftly but were immediately met with gunfire. Surveillance footage showed the suspect also firing from outside the hotel.
Investigators are currently working to determine the motive behind the shooting. Chief Dagher noted that the source of the civilian’s fatal shot is still unknown.
Nearby construction worker Jacob Coutu described hearing four or five initial gunshots followed by a large police response and further gunfire, estimating a total of 30 to 40 shots fired. “We saw cops getting in a gunfight, getting shot down,” he recounted.
In response to the threat, public safety officials issued an emergency alert advising local residents to shelter in place. The alert led to the temporary closure of the Décarie Expressway and significant sections of two subway lines. The police confirmed the suspect was neutralized before the alert was issued, and the warning was lifted shortly after 3 p.m.
The community mourns the loss of an officer and the lives affected by this tragic event as the investigation continues.