The Montreal police officer who shot and killed teenager Fredy Villanueva told a public inquiry that he was cornered by the youth's extremely aggressive older brother and that the two struggled before he opened fire.

A packed courtroom, including a number of Villanueva supporters, listened to Constable Jean-Loup Lapointe's long-awaited account of the Aug. 9, 2008 shooting that triggered riots and highlighted bad blood between law enforcement and youths in Montreal North.

Lapointe said he had entered a parking lot on the day of the shooting and spotted six or seven people playing dice for money.

CTV's Stephane Giroux says Lapointe recounted how he and partner Stephanie Pilotte approached the youths. The officers were ready to issue tickets when Dany Villanueva walked away, then returned and became extremely aggressive.

"Lapointe said that he felt cornered by his car, and he had to indicate to everybody else 'back off, back off,'" Giroux reported.

Lapointe said he was swarmed by half a dozen people, and he explained that as he struggled to keep Dany Villanueva on the ground, the four other people were getting closer to him.

He said that one managed to grab him by the neck, while the other one reached for his belt, and Lapointe felt he had no choice but to pull the gun out of its holster and start shooting.

According to Leloup, Fredy Villanueva collapsed to the ground, while a second man, Jeffrey Metellus was injured but survived.

The shooting set off riots throughout Montreal north in which a police officer was shot in the leg, and highlighted bad blood between police and youths in the neighbourhood.

Villanueva supporters

Lapointe's turn in front of the coroner energized the supporters of the Villanueva family.

They feel they are the underdogs at this inquiry, and they refused to believe his version of events, screaming "liar" during the inquest.

"Jean-Loup Lapointe shot four bullets into Fredy Villanueva who had no weapon," said activist Alexandre Popovic.

Several members of the audience wore t-shirts emblazoned with Fredy Villanueva's face, which prompted Lapointe's lawyer to raise an objection to Coroner Andre Perreault.

The judge overruled the objection.

Demonstration

The supporters later spilled outside to hold a noon-hour rally.

About two dozen people picketed the courthouse to denounce Lapointe, waving placards that read: "Lapointe: Fredy's executioner."