Three people are dead in Montreal after a shooting that left a police officer and the suspected attacker among the fatalities, authorities confirmed Monday. The third victim was a civilian. Details remain scarce, but the incident has rattled the normally quiet Quebec city.
Shots fired in residential area
The shooting unfolded in a residential neighborhood in Montreal's eastern end. Police responded to reports of gunfire around 2 p.m. local time. Arriving officers encountered a suspect who opened fire, striking a police officer and a bystander. The officer was rushed to hospital but succumbed to injuries. The suspect was 'neutralised' by police, according to a law enforcement statement. The civilian victim died at the scene.
Montreal police chief Fady Dagher called the incident 'a tragic day for our city and our police service.' He added, 'We lost a brave officer who was simply doing his job to protect Montrealers.' The officer has not been publicly named pending family notification.
No prior warnings
Authorities said there was no prior intelligence suggesting an attack. The suspect's identity has not been released, and a motive remains unclear. Investigators are combing the scene and reviewing surveillance footage.
'We lost a brave officer who was simply doing his job to protect Montrealers.' — Montreal police chief Fady Dagher
The shooting comes amid a rising number of gun incidents in Canadian cities, though violent crime rates remain relatively low compared to the United States. Montreal recorded 32 homicides in 2025, a slight uptick from the previous year. This shooting marks one of the deadliest single incidents involving police in recent memory.
Questions linger
Why did the suspect target civilians and police? Was there a connection? These are questions that will occupy investigators in the coming days. The lack of details has fueled speculation online, but officials urge patience.
For now, Montreal grieves. Flags at city hall fly at half-staff. A makeshift memorial of flowers and candles has appeared near the shooting site. The officer's colleagues struggle to process the loss. 'He was a great cop and a better friend,' one officer told reporters, his voice breaking.
This story is developing. More details will emerge as the investigation continues.
