On June 22, 2026, a suspect with a long gun opened fire at a Montreal hotel, leading to the death of a police officer and the suspect. A civilian also lost their life, though it remains unclear who fired the shot.
The incident occurred in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood. Police Chief Fady Dagher stated that a second officer was seriously injured but is currently in stable condition. Chief Dagher noted this was the first police officer death in Montreal in over two decades, expressing profound sadness over the event.
Emergency services received a call around 11:35 a.m., reporting someone brandishing a gun from a Hilton hotel window. As police arrived, they were greeted with gunfire. The shooter stepped outside the hotel, continuing to fire. Authorities are investigating the suspect’s motive, with no current clarity on who shot the civilian.
The fallen officer was identified as Constable Mohamed Lamine Benredouan, aged 34, a member of the force since 2021.
Social media videos depict gunfire exchanges between police and a person wearing an olive-colored jacket and cargo pants, armed with a long gun. These videos also show a civilian and an officer getting shot. The suspect was seen adjusting or reloading their weapon.
Jacob Coutu, present at a nearby construction site, reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing numerous police officers arriving. He estimated hearing 30 to 40 shots.
An emergency alert was issued, advising residents to shelter in place due to a dangerous armed suspect. This resulted in temporary closures of the Décarie expressway and parts of two subway lines.
Quebec Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière withheld details on the suspect’s identity and motives, citing the ongoing investigation by an independent police watchdog. Confirming it was not a terrorist attack, he had consulted multiple agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Lafrenière, previously with Montreal police, urged the public not to share videos of the shooting out of respect for the deceased. In British Columbia, police forces received a warning from an intelligence unit at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police headquarters about possible documentation urging violence against police, following the day’s tragic events.