Ottawa's Third Homicide Victim Identified as 19-Year-Old Majed Al-Ar
Ottawa police have officially identified the victim in the city's third homicide of 2026 as 19-year-old Majed Al-Ar. The young man was fatally shot on Wednesday afternoon near Manotick, marking a tragic escalation of violence in the region.
Details of the Shooting Incident
The shooting occurred on Bankfield Road near Prince of Wales Drive outside of Manotick. According to authorities, Al-Ar was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries but did not survive. Another man was also shot during the incident and was taken to hospital in stable condition, though his identity has not been released.
Ottawa police have arrested two men in connection with the shooting. Their names and any potential charges remain undisclosed as the investigation continues. The road where the shooting took place remained closed until approximately 2:30 a.m. on Thursday while police conducted their investigation.
Eyewitness Accounts from the Scene
Ariel Lasher, who lives directly in front of where the shooting occurred, reported hearing yelling outside her home on Wednesday afternoon. When she went outside to investigate, she witnessed one person with a gunshot wound to the elbow and another individual lying on the road.
"Within the next few minutes, several emergency vehicles arrived on scene as sirens began to multiply," Lasher recounted. While she noted that police presence is common in the area due to frequent accidents on the road, she expressed shock at discovering the incident was a homicide. "I'm shaking still," she told the Ottawa Citizen.
Community Reaction and Police Response
Colleen Craig, another Bankfield Road resident, initially assumed the commotion was related to a car accident when she first heard sirens. However, as police vehicles multiplied at the scene, she began to suspect something more serious was unfolding.
"There were two ambulances, three paramedic vehicles, twelve police SUVs and we just couldn't believe it," Craig said. "And I said to my husband, 'this has got to be more than a car accident.'"
From her window, Craig observed police searching up and down the road and examining ditches along the roadside until she went to bed that night.
Characteristics of the Location
The stretch of Bankfield Road where the shooting occurred features a mix of single-family homes and a mechanic shop. Houses are spread out across large, rural properties, some backing onto barns and farmland. The two-lane road has an 80 km/h speed limit, though residents report that vehicles often travel at much higher speeds.
The Ottawa Paramedic Service was called to the scene at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to a paramedic spokesperson. The investigation into Ottawa's third homicide of 2026 continues as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding Majed Al-Ar's death.
