Canada is reeling after a deadly shooting on Monday in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood that left a police officer and a civilian dead. The gunman was later shot dead after hours of police standoff and a major operation across the city. Police identified the fallen officer as Sgt. Mohamed-Lamine Ben Redouane, 34, who had served with the Montreal police since 2021. The force said he died while trying to protect the public and called his death a profound loss.
The civilian killed was Michael Moshe Mizrahi. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs described him as a valued member of the community and an innocent victim, saying its thoughts were with his family and loved ones. Witnesses said the shooter was seen wearing camouflage clothes, carrying a backpack and a long gun. One witness said he saw him moments before the shooting and then heard a police officer tell him to move away. “There were children crying and calling for their father, it was very frightening,” he said.
Police also searched the Westmount area near Saint Joseph’s Oratory during the afternoon to make sure no other suspects were involved. Authorities later said the immediate danger to the public had passed. Quebec’s counterterrorism unit was activated, but Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière said there was currently no indication of a terror link. The investigation was handed to Quebec’s independent Bureau of Independent Investigations, or BEI, which has not released further details on the shooting, the gunman’s identity, or who fired the shot that killed the civilian.
New information points to a possible motive. Noovo Info reported that police found a manifesto of more than 100 pages in the suspect’s hotel room. The document allegedly discusses incel ideology, opposition to women’s liberation, and the pornography industry, and includes a list of possible targets such as porn companies, sex industry conferences, and prominent porn actors. The shooting happened near the offices of Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, but no direct link has been confirmed. Aylo said it is cooperating with investigators. Quebec flags were lowered to half-staff, and Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “shocked” and offered condolences. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette praised the officers’ bravery and stressed the need for psychological support for residents affected by the attack. The investigation is ongoing.
