Three Dead, Including Police Officer, in Montreal Shooting
Collected Photo
A violent shooting in Montreal on Monday morning left three people dead—a city police officer, an armed suspect, and a civilian—while wounding another officer and a second civilian, authorities confirmed.
The incident unfolded around 11:35 a.m. (local time) in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood, outside the Hilton Garden Inn Montreal Midtown. Police had responded to reports of shots fired and a gun visible from an upper-floor window of the hotel. Upon arrival, officers encountered a gunman on the ground level, leading to an immediate and intense exchange of gunfire, according to Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher.
The fallen officer was identified as Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, who had served with the force since 2021. In a statement, the police service mourned his loss, highlighting his sense of duty, dedication, and professionalism. Chief Dagher described him as a public servant who "fell in order to fulfill his mission to protect and serve."
Cellphone footage verified by NBC News captured the chaos of the shootout. The video shows a person dressed in fatigues-style clothing exchanging rounds with law enforcement. One officer is seen tumbling to the ground, crawling behind a parked car for cover, and ultimately lying prone. Another officer takes shelter behind a planter as gunfire continues. An unarmed civilian approaches that officer, and a gunshot rings out; the civilian collapses. However, the footage leaves it unclear whether the officer fired the fatal shot or if the civilian was caught in crossfire from the gunman. Moments later, the suspect appears to attempt reloading a rifle but collapses amid further gunfire. A long gun was recovered from the scene.
A female officer and another civilian were also injured. The wounded officer was hospitalized in critical condition but has since been stabilized, Dagher said. When asked who killed the civilian, police declined to comment to avoid interfering with the investigation, referring questions to Quebec's independent police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes. The agency stated it was too early in the process to release further details.
Authorities initially advised the public to avoid the area near Highway 40 and Queen Mary, urging those nearby to shelter in place. That alert was lifted shortly after 3:00 p.m. Elevated footage from the scene showed both an officer and the suspect on the ground, with emergency responders tending to the wounded.
Political leaders swiftly responded to the tragedy. Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette requested that the National Assembly lower the provincial flag to half-staff in honor of the slain officer. She thanked first responders for their courage and appealed to the public to refrain from speculation while the investigation proceeds. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada expressed condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of Officer Benredouane via social media, stating she was closely monitoring the situation.
The identities of the suspect and the civilian victims have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin. Representatives for Hilton have not immediately commented on the incident. The investigation remains active as authorities work to piece together the exact sequence of events that led to this deadly morning in Montreal.
