Alberta man identified as suspect in Montreal shooting that killed officer and bystander
Police have named a 25-year-old man from Alberta as the alleged gunman in a Montreal neighbourhood shooting that left a police officer and a civilian dead, while the motive remains under investigation.
Quebec authorities have identified the suspect in the Côte-des-Neiges shooting as a 25-year-old man from Lethbridge, Alberta. The individual was shot dead by police after opening fire from a hotel-room window on Monday, killing police officer Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, and 64-year-old resident Michel Mizrahi.
The Quebec coroner's office confirmed the identities of both victims on Tuesday. The mayor of the borough, Stéphanie Valenzuela, said Benredouane had grown up locally before joining the police force in 2021 and described his death as “an act of heroism.”
Police have not disclosed a motive. A 104-page document circulating online and allegedly linked to the suspect contains misogynistic, anti-capitalist and anti-government rhetoric, though its authenticity has not been verified. Professor Stephanie Carvin, who studies extremism, said the text mixes far-left and far-right ideas and promotes “violent misogyny.”
Mizrahi, a Jewish father of three who sold suits, is believed to have been killed in the crossfire; the exact circumstances of his death remain unclear. The Jewish Community Council of Montreal cautioned against speculation, noting that no evidence has been released about a target.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued an alert to other forces about the circulating document, warning that it appeared to encourage attacks on police officers. Investigators say the suspect acted alone, but the reason for choosing Montreal is still unknown.
