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A midday shooting in Montreal resulted in three fatalities, including a police officer, a civilian, and the suspect, causing widespread shock in the Canadian city. The incident took place in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood home to kosher markets and eateries, but authorities have not provided details on the motive or whether it was a hate crime or terrorist attack. Reports suggest the shooter was linked to “incel” ideology—an extremist misogynistic belief system focused on involuntary celibacy—which previously played a role in Canada’s deadliest mass killing in 2018 in Toronto, where ten people died after being rammed by a vehicle.
Montreal’s police chief, Fady Dagher, described the event as “a tragedy, a nightmare.” While Canada rarely sees daylight gunfights like this compared to neighboring U.S., such incidents do happen infrequently. Authorities responded swiftly after receiving a call about an active gunfire situation around 11:30 am in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood.
Officers engaged in a shootout with the suspect, who was armed with a rifle and barricaded inside a building. Witness Frank Vogas, a 71-year-old buying paint nearby, recounted the chaos: “I saw police rushing in from all directions, guns drawn. They told everyone in the shop to stay down.” Another local, Danny Wilk, described witnessing the violence firsthand: “I was on the street near my home when I heard one shot, then several more. I ducked into a pizzeria and saw the shooter dressed in military-style clothing, seemingly ready to fire.” He also saw the police standing over the fallen officer, who was identified as a male, while a female officer was critically wounded but stable.
Details about the civilian victim remain undisclosed. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed horror over the events, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
Speculation immediately arose online that the attack might have been antisemitic, given the neighborhood’s Jewish institutions and the rising number of crimes targeting Jewish communities since Israel’s Gaza campaign commenced post-October 7, 2023. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) said it was closely monitoring the situation, but police emphasized there was no confirmed motive at this time.
Local rabbi Gezy Markowitz, noting the area’s numerous Jewish centers, urged caution: “It’s too early to determine if this was an attack on the Jewish community. Right now, it’s a police matter.” Quebec Premier Christine Frechette expressed deep shock and called for restraint to avoid unfounded rumors. Authorities initially locked down the area, but by Monday afternoon, they had begun clearing the scene and restoring traffic flow.
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