Witnesses described scenes of chaos and terror as a gunman opened fire inside a Montreal grocery store on Tuesday, killing one police officer and seriously injuring another. The suspect was also shot and killed by police, authorities said.
Eyewitness accounts of the shooting
One witness, who asked not to be identified, told CTV News that the shooter was “like, in front of me” and that he heard multiple gunshots before ducking for cover. “I saw the police officer fall. It was horrible,” the witness said. Another shopper said she hid in a freezer aisle for nearly 20 minutes while the attack unfolded.
Montreal police confirmed that the fallen officer was a 10-year veteran of the force. Police Chief Fady Dagher said the officer was “a great, great, great police officer” and that the entire department was in mourning. The injured officer was taken to hospital and is expected to recover.
Police warn of possible manifesto
Chief Dagher also warned that police had recovered a document from the suspect that appeared to be an anti-police manifesto. “We are analyzing it to determine if it was a targeted attack on police,” he said. The suspect’s identity has not been released, but police said he was known to them for previous offenses.
Quebec Premier François Legault condemned the violence, saying “these actions have no place in our society.” He offered condolences to the officer’s family and praised the bravery of first responders.
Investigation ongoing
Police have cordoned off the area and are interviewing witnesses. The grocery store will remain closed pending the investigation. The incident has shaken the community, with residents leaving flowers and notes at a makeshift memorial near the store.
This is the third police officer killed in the line of duty in Canada this year. The last Montreal police officer killed in the line of duty was in 2021.
