Gregory Woolley, an influential figure in the world of organized crime, was shot dead on Friday in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
According to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), which is handling the investigation, the police officers of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu were called at around 10:30 a.m. to go to the parking lot of a shopping center, Boulevard du Séminaire. There was the presence of a seriously injured man reported.
The 51-year-old man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, the SQ said. His partner and their child were with him at the time of the incident but were not targeted.
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Gregory Woolley, an influential figure in the world of organized crime, was shot dead on Friday in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
Photo: Radio-Canada
An important figure in organized crime
Gregory Woolley was a major organized crime figure and member of the Rockers, the Hells Angels’ former school club.
He was considered the godfather of Montreal street gangs.
An investigation conducted in 2013 by the SQ and the police services of the Longueuil and Laval metropolitan areas revealed that Woolley is an associate of Maurice “Mom” Boucher, the former warlord of the Hells. Angels. He was the only black man to reach such a level among criminal bikers.
The imprisoned Gregory Woolley had been on probation since November 2021.
According to police, a price had been put on his head and police had warned him.
His neighbors’ house was mistakenly attacked by multiple gunshots in May 2022. Three months later, a fire caused by a Molotov cocktail followed, this time in the garage of Gregory Woolley’s home.
In an interview with the CBC network, Philippe Paul, a former investigator with the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) anti-gang team, said he knew the criminal well, having arrested him in the early 2000s.
Gregory Woolley was charged and convicted several times for drug trafficking, reports the former investigator.
We know that this man killed several people in Montreal and the surrounding area. He was a killer for the Hells Angels, he killed people, so the best way to eliminate your witness is to kill him. This is what happened to him.
Philippe Paul adds that Gregory Woolley worked not only with the Hells, but also with the Sicilian Mafia.
Usually when we warn these people [que leur tête est mise à prix]We know that they will continue their activities, but at some point they will make a mistake and this will happen. These so-called “opportunity” contracts mean that a hitman can “make it,” be it in a day, a week, a month or a year. It had been hanging over his head for a long time, explains Philippe Paul.
“I think he was one of the main targets killed in Montreal this year,” the investigator added.
According to Daniel Renaud, crime reporter at La Presse, such a murder could be a sign of more events to come. “It is certain that if we eliminate a person like Gregory Woolley, it is probably not over,” he explained on ICI RDI on Friday.
There could be a reaction from Woolley’s allies. Or will it be Gregory Woolley’s opponents from his group who will continue their work? But what I have seen since the beginning of 2023 is a conflict at the highest level. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this […]. “We haven’t seen this since 2016,” Mr Renaud added.
The SQ is looking for a black SUV
The SQ has not currently arrested any suspects in this case.
However, investigators are looking for a black sports utility vehicle (SUV). Witnesses reportedly saw him storming off in the moments after the murder of Gregory Woolley.
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The vehicle burned on Rue de Sébastopol in Pointe-Saint-Charles.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Mathieu Wagner
Police are actively searching for the driver of this vehicle. SQ spokeswoman Camille Savoie is urging anyone with information to pass it on to authorities.
Our investigators are looking for all relevant information related to a black sport utility vehicle that was reported to have quickly left the scene this morning. Therefore, anyone with information is asked to contact the Sûreté du Québec Crime Information Center.
In the Pointe-Saint-Charles district of Montreal, police also reported on Friday that a black vehicle had been set on fire on Rue de Sébastopol. However, it is still too early to say that this event is related to the murder in Montérégie.
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