Montreal police say a war may be brewing in the city between Jamaican and Haitian street gangs, and that may be what led to a brazen shooting in a clothing store in Old Montreal in March.
On March 18, a gangland-style attack at the Flawnego clothing store on St. Jacques St. W. left two people dead and two others wounded.
Police believe the intended target was Ducarme Joseph, the owner of the upscale boutique. Joseph, 41, has a lengthy criminal record and has been linked to Haitian street gangs.
"At the time (of the shooting), police already had their eyes on Ducarme Joseph. They said that he had relations with some members of the mafia, but he was always considered an independent street gang (member), not affiliated with anyone -- a man who would just go along with anyone who would pay a lot of money for him to commit crimes," said CTV Montreal reporter Stephane Giroux.
Joseph was not injured in the shooting, and escaped out the back door. Peter Christopoulos, an associate of Joseph's, and Jean Gaston, an employee of the clothing store, were killed in the attack. An electrician doing work in the store was injured.
Two men were arrested in Montreal on Friday in connection with the shooting and appeared in court via videoconference on Saturday.
Carey Isaac Regis, 41, and Terrell Lloyd Smith, 27, are facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder.
"Investigators are starting to think that the shooting was a battle between two rival gangs," said Giroux.
Both Regis and Smith are allegedly members of a Jamaican street gang. Police are seeking a third alleged Jamaican gang member, 26-year-old Kyle Gabriel, in connection with the shooting.
"Police fear that he might be trying to leave the country, so the Canada Border Services Agency has been notified," Giroux said.
Regis and Smith are scheduled to return to July 30.
