About 5,000 police officers and emergency personnel from across Canada gathered in Montreal on July 7, 2026, to honour Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, the officer slain in a downtown shooting on June 22. The procession, which included a police choir singing John Lennon's "Imagine," was a solemn tribute to the 34-year-old husband, father and brother who died protecting his neighbourhood.
Details of the Shooting
Benredouane was killed on June 22 when a 25-year-old revolutionary communist, Seth Hatfield, drove from Lethbridge, Alberta, to Montreal and opened fire. Hatfield's target list included the downtown main office of Pornhub, influential Zionists, elite bankers, politicians, plastic surgeons, pick-up artists and "corrupt" police officers. Benredouane and another officer who was seriously injured were not on that list. Hatfield was shot dead by police after killing Benredouane. A civilian bystander, Michel Mizrahi, also died in the attack.
Procession and Memorial
The procession on Rene-Levesque Boulevard included officers from Montreal, Ottawa, London, Ont., and Surrey, B.C., as well as police cadets, paramedics, firefighters, Quebec provincial police, the RCMP and Canadian Armed Forces military police. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and family members of Benredouane also attended. Montreal police chief Fady Dagher said Benredouane was "so committed, totally available to his colleagues" that "everyone wanted him on their team." Dagher described his officers as "deeply shaken and saddened" but "extremely resilient."
Impact and Response
The shooting has shaken the Montreal community and raised concerns about targeted violence. The procession was a show of strength and unity among law enforcement agencies. Terry Newman, a journalist covering the event, noted that the rendition of "Imagine" offered a glimpse of peace, even as violence remains a reality. The SPVM confirmed the participation of about 5,000 officers in the honour guard.
