No fewer than 80 shots were fired in Rivière-des-Prairies and Montréal-Nord in just 24 hours, further affecting the sense of security of citizens frightened by the numerous shootings that are rocking the metropolis’ hot sectors. .
• Also read: [PHOTOS] Another Montreal shooting: Police clear search area, but investigation continues
“The world is about to go crazy,” said France Morneault, who works as a waitress at Al’s Pizzeria and Submarines, a stone’s throw from the recent crime scene.
Around midnight yesterday, around thirty shots were fired at the corner of Boulevard Maurice-Duplessis and 27th Avenue in Rivière-des-Prairies, right next to a police station.
A 25-year-old woman received at least one projectile in the legs, but is not in fear for her life. According to our information, unknown to the police, she may have been attacked at random while going to Al’s restaurant with friends.
Points
One of the hypotheses seriously considered by investigators is that of scoring, an increasingly common street gang practice that allows you to score points within your clan.
Four suspects then fled in a vehicle. However, Montreal police patrols quickly gave chase, particularly because the driver was traveling at high speed and had committed multiple traffic violations.
While attempting to flee from officers, the driver of the getaway vehicle lost control and landed upside down in a ditch about four kilometers away.
Authorities arrested two young men at the scene, but their accomplices managed to escape.
A major police operation was carried out for hours yesterday to find the young men in an adjacent wooded area. Vain.
Weapons, high-capacity magazines and a bulletproof vest were discovered on board the vehicle, according to our sources.
At the end of the afternoon, Dardy Lavaud, 18, and Robby Valère, 23, were formally charged with possession of a prohibited firearm in the Montreal courthouse.
As the Crown refused their release, they will remain in detention pending further trial. More charges could follow.
Lavaud has no criminal record, while Valère has previous convictions for drug possession and disobeying a court order.
Strong tensions
During the passage of the journal, tension ran high in this residential area in the east of the island.
“We don’t want to live in fear,” said Fatima Iden, who lives near the crime scene. We’ve lived here a long time. We had security. But now it’s the other way around. »
“You can hardly go out anymore,” said Pierre Boyer, who has worked for the flower shop for ten years and has a window next to the crime scene. Lost bullets, you walk out and get shot. They shoot everywhere. »
It is the third blood and gun incident in just 24 hours.
On Wednesday night, a 26-year-old young man with no prior history was killed by multiple bullets in the yard of the Lester B. Pearson School in Montreal North. A few minutes later, a vehicle in Rivière-des-Prairies, in which a young woman was, was riddled with bullets.
– In collaboration with Maxime Deland, Agence QMI, Laurent Lavoie and Michaël Nguyen
THE NEWSPAPER | A major police operation lasted many hours in Montreal yesterday as the armed and well-equipped suspects fled. Here is the thread of events
1. The shooting
Photo agency QMI, Pascal Girard
Around midnight 30, about thirty shots were fired at the corner of Maurice-Duplessis Boulevard and 27th Avenue in front of a Desjardins branch and Al’s Restaurant. A 25-year-old woman was injured. Projectile impacts are visible in the windows.
Photo agency QMI, Maxime Deland
2. A car accident
Photo agency QMI, Maxime Deland
Four suspects fled in a speeding vehicle. After about 4 kilometers, the driver lost control of the car, which overturned in a ditch on Broadway Avenue. Two suspects managed to escape, but two others were handcuffed by authorities.
3. Perimeter established
Photo agency QMI, Maxime Deland
Montreal police used heavy artillery with heavily armed police officers to apprehend the two fugitives, but to no avail. Searches were carried out in a wooded area and a large square was cordoned off. The intensive search was stopped yesterday afternoon. Authorities are actively looking for the suspects.
Photo agency QMI, Maxime Deland
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