Don't walk alone at night, Montreal principal tells students after fatal shooting of 16-year-old boy
Days after a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed in Montreal’s Saint-Michel neighbourhood, the victim’s principal is telling her students to avoid the nearby park and to not walk alone at night.
The disturbing warning on Thursday came after police stepped up their presence at Joseph François Perrault high school.
Police have not made any arrests in the death of Thomas Trudel, who was killed by a gunshot wound to his upper body last Sunday night. His death has sent shockwaves throughout the city as yet another 16-year-old’s life was taken by violent crime.
“It's good to question safety because there are no patrols and I think it would be good to be able to walk the streets at night without being scared of being killed,'' one student told CTV News Thursday.
“It's sad they waited for Thomas’ death before putting in police presence because before this there were plenty of other incidents and gunshots,” said a female student.
In a letter to parents, the school's principal also warned students to avoid the park at night.
However, some students say the problem extends beyond Saint-Michel and that more needs to be done about gun violence in the city.
“We really need to take a look at gun control, especially when it comes to young people,” she said.
“We see what is happening in the U.S. and we don't want it to be the same.”
Laying flowers Thursday afternoon at the site where the Trudel was killed, Premier François Legault joined the growing number of politicians to pay tribute to the teen.
Later Thursday night, Legault told reporters at an announcement about hockey at the Bell Centre that now is the time to repeat efforts of former public safety minister Serge Menard to “clean up the street gangs” as was done in previous years.
Montreal police have not linked Trudel’s death to gang violence or revealed a motive in the killing.
“We're there now, we have to stop it. It's terrible to see a little 16-year-old guy get shot,” Legault said.
“It's one thing to fight in the schoolyard, but to be shot in Montreal? You can't accept that.”
'WE'RE ALL THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO EVEN MORE': TRUDEAU
Banning handguns is a federal responsibility, he said, adding that Quebec is ready to join them in the fight against gun crime. He also promised there would be an announcement on gun crime in the provincial government’s economic update on Nov. 25. “Watch for that; it's going to be a priority,” he said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about the issue of gun trafficking across the U.S. border at a news conference in Washington Thursday evening.
He said the government has worked for several years on the issue of guns being smuggled into Canada and that work will continue.
"Obviously, these recent tragedies that we experienced in my riding in Montreal with Mr. Trudel who died — we’re all thinking about how we can do even more. And this is why we’ll continue to work with the Government of Quebec and the municipalities that want to control guns," Trudeau said.
Mayor Valerie Plante has also called on the federal government to do more to fight gun crime and Mohamed Noredine Mimoun, a youth worker, agrees.
“This has gone on for months and there's no solution,” said Mimoun, a co-ordinator with Forum Jeunesse de St-Michel.
“The city looks to the federal government, they look to the provincial — it’s become a game, meanwhile, the community suffers.”
Mimoun has organized a march to raise awareness on the increased gun violence and why it's happening.
“We have to work with the youth to understand why they need guns. Is it fear? Are they too easy to get? Is it a culture of glorification? And then where do the guns come from?” he said.
The memorial march in support of Trudel's family and classmates will be held Saturday at noon in Parc François-Perrault.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.