Surete du Quebec partnering with Montreal police to combat gun trafficking after deadly shooting
Quebec's public safety minister announced a new collaboration between the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and Montreal police to fight gun trafficking following a triple homicide on the island on Monday.
Geneviève Guilbault made the announcement at a news conference in Montreal Wednesday morning alongside the city's mayor and other public officials in a showing of solidarity in the fight against gun violence that has risen in recent weeeks.
The minister said an "integrated team" of SQ and Montreal police officers will work together on a permanent basis to combat gun trafficking in the city. Guilbault said more details about the new collaboration will be revealed at a later date.
"The fact that we'll be joining forces with Sûreté du Quebec will enable us to recuperate some resources and re-inject them on the fight against armed violence in the streets of Montreal," said Montreal police chief Sylvain Caron at the announcement. He was joined by Mayor Valérie Plante, Minister Guilbault, as well as the Director General of the SQ, Johanne Beausoleil, for the announcement.
The news conferrence follows Monday’s deadly shooting that claimed the lives of three men and injured two others in the east end borough of Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles. A volley of bullets were shot towards the group of five men at an apartment building at 9301 Perras Blvd., near 54th Avenue.
Insp. David Shane confirmed Wednesday it was a drive-by shooting, but he did not share any more details, including the type of guns that were involved or the motive behind the shooting.
In response to the violence, community members in RDP have said more policing is not the solution to gun and gang violence because they fear it will lead to animosity among marginalized communities.
Shane acknowledged the gun violence plaguing certain neighbourhoods is "a society problem that needs a global approach," but added that it's difficult to treat it as just a societal issue when there is violence on the streets.
"We're working on different fronts," Shane said.
"So we're conducting investigations, we're visible on the streets with uniformed personnel to reassure people, and to deter any reaction or vengeance in these groups, but we're also working with the community neighbourhood stations with the community organizations."
The triple homicide during daylight hours on Monday drew widespread condemnation from public officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said on Twitter "the rise in gun violence in Montreal over the past few weeks is disturbing — and it must stop."
Minister Guilbault also expressed her condolences to the victims of Monday's shooting.
"We understand that people are worried right now, that people who live in those places material are worried right now," she said. "This is a worrying situation, because this is not the first tragic event that occurs in the last weeks."
She said the province will also develop a committee with offficials from public safety and the city for a crime prevention strategy to combat other types of crimes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.