The Montreal Police Service (SPVM) said it had arrested eight suspects between the ages of 15 and 21 in the metropolis on Thursday night. Two firearms were also seized in separate cases.
Posted 11:14am Updated 11:20am
Thursday night was fruitful in terms of crime prevention in Montreal. The SPVM was able to intercept suspects in possession of a firearm before a violent crime ensued.
The first wave of arrests took place around 10 p.m. on Thursday evening when a citizen of the SPVM reported seeing three people with a firearm. The people were in a black car parked in front of a building in a residential area of the Ahuntsic-Cartierville neighborhood.
The police quickly intervened and arrested three suspects, men aged 15, 18 and 26. They found a loaded pistol in the vehicle. One of the suspects had already been arrested with a firearm in the past, the SPVM said in a press release.
Set out and enter Outremont
That same night, around 1:30 a.m., an Outremont resident was calling 911 when a group of people broke into his building.
The suspects eventually left the scene without entering the home and fled in a vehicle. This was established by the police.
The five occupants of the vehicle, four men and one woman aged 19 to 21, were arrested. One of them had a loaded pistol. Another had a hammer on him.
An investigation has been launched into the file.
CENTAUR strategy
Remember that the SPVM works closely with CENTAURE, the Quebec strategy to combat armed violence implemented by the Department of Public Safety.
This strategy benefits from nearly $250 million in funding through 2027. Almost $140 million of that sum goes to repression and $104 million to prevention.
Anyone with information about armed violence in Montreal can call 911 or their neighborhood station.
It is also possible to communicate anonymously and confidentially with Info-Crime Montréal at 514.393-1133 or through the report form on the infocrimemontreal.ca website. Under certain conditions, Info-Crime Montreal may award rewards of up to $3,000 for information leading to the arrest of suspects.