Second Lawsuit Filed Over Police Killing of Teen Nooran Rezayi in Longueuil
The families of five teenagers who were present when 15-year-old Nooran Rezayi was shot and killed by police in Longueuil last year have filed a $1.9 million lawsuit against the city and its police force. This marks the second legal action to emerge from the fatal incident, following a $2.2 million claim filed by Nooran's family last December.
Details of the New Legal Action
This latest lawsuit was filed on Thursday on behalf of the minors, all aged between 15 and 17 years old. The legal documents allege that the teenagers have suffered lasting psychological harm as a result of witnessing the shooting. To protect their identities, the plaintiffs are not identified in the court filings.
The killing sent shock waves across Montreal's South Shore community. Hundreds of mourners, many of them teenagers, attended Nooran's funeral. Some attendees reported they did not know him personally but were moved to attend out of anger and grief over the circumstances surrounding his death.
Background of the Fatal Incident
The shooting occurred roughly six months ago when a Longueuil police officer responded to a 911 call reporting a "group of armed people" in a residential area of St-Hubert. Quebec's police watchdog has since completed its investigation into the matter, and the case is now in the hands of prosecutors for further review.
In addition to the police watchdog investigation, the Quebec Ministry of Public Security has announced a broader investigation into the events surrounding the shooting. This indicates ongoing scrutiny of police actions during the incident.
Security Footage Evidence
Security camera footage later released by the family's legal team shows Nooran and several other teenagers sitting on a curb at a street corner shortly before police officers arrived on the scene. Moments after the police cruiser pulled up, most of the youths scattered and began to run away.
In the video, an officer can be heard shouting "Get down on the ground!" three times. According to timestamps on the footage, eight seconds passed between the arrival of the police vehicle and the first command. Two gunshots rang out soon after these commands were issued.
The lawsuit comes as the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the shooting, with legal proceedings now unfolding on multiple fronts involving both the victim's family and witnesses to the tragic event.
