A police officer, a Jewish civilian, and a suspect were killed in a shooting on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, a predominantly Jewish area. The incident has reignited concerns about rising antisemitism in Canada, as authorities investigate whether the attack was motivated by hate.
The shooting began around midday when a 911 call reported gunshots in the area near Beth Rivkah Academy, Chabad NDG, the Vaad Ha’ir, MADA, the Chai Center, Yagdil Torah, and numerous kosher businesses. Police warned of an “armed and dangerous suspect” and urged residents to shelter indoors, lock doors, and stay away from windows. The Decarie Expressway was shut down, a measure akin to closing Toronto's Gardiner Expressway.
Victims and Police Response
Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher confirmed that a police officer was killed in a shootout with the suspect, who was also fatally shot by another officer while attempting to reload. A second officer was hospitalized with injuries. The civilian victim was identified as Michael Moshe Mizrahi, a Jewish man. As many as a dozen shots were fired, and graphic videos circulated online showing bodies and blood on the sidewalk near a kosher supermarket. An SKS-style semi-automatic rifle, a weapon favoured by terrorists and used in the March 2024 Edmonton City Hall attack, was seen near the suspect.
Police searched for a possible second suspect but found none. The operation remained active for hours, with authorities advising continued avoidance of the area. “A suspect has been neutralized … The police operation is still underway. Please continue to avoid the area,” Montreal police said in a statement.
Rising Antisemitism Concerns
The attack comes 989 days after the Oct. 7, 2023, atrocities, during which experts warned of targeted violence against Jews in Canada. The country has seen repeated antisemitic incidents, including shootings at Jewish schools, firebombings of synagogues (one in Vancouver while worshippers were inside), and death threats. Prime Minister Carney acknowledged the problem in a speech at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto weeks earlier, but offered no concrete solutions beyond a committee, one of whose members had lobbied against listing Hamas as a terrorist organization. Israeli observers were appalled by Carney’s response.
“It’s been a factor in too many other places. Too many other shootings. And in Montreal on Monday, it felt like it had happened here, too,” wrote Warren Kinsella in a commentary. The shooting follows similar attacks in Bondi Beach, Australia; Washington, D.C.; and Boulder, Colorado, where gunmen targeted Jews.
Uncertain Motive
Police Chief Dagher said it was unclear whether antisemitism was a motive. The Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood is known for its diverse, peaceful community, where Jewish and other families have coexisted for decades. “We don’t know,” Kinsella noted, but added that governments had been warned for months that someone would try to kill Jews in Canada. The investigation continues as Montreal mourns the loss of a police officer and a civilian, with the spectre of hate-driven violence looming large.
