Suspect in three Montreal homicides, including boxer Dave Lemieux’s dad, shot dead by police

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The person who was fatally shot at a motel within the St-Laurent borough on Thursday, whereas Montreal police sought a suspect in three current homicides, was allowed to proceed residing exterior of a mental-health establishment he was launched from final 12 months although a psychiatrist decided in March that he represented “a big threat to public security resulting from his psychological state.”

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The homicide suspect, Abdulla Shaikh, 26, had been launched from the establishment following a call by an administrative tribunal in January 2021. In March this 12 months, the tribunal reviewed its determination and allowed Shaikh to proceed residing exterior the establishment.

In 2018, Shaikh was a resident of Pickering, Ont., when he was declared not criminally accountable in a case held on the Montreal courthouse the place he was charged with mischief.

Based on a abstract of his case contained within the tribunal’s determination, Shaikh was exterior Pierre Elliott Trudeau Worldwide Airport close to the doorway when “he set fireplace to his Canadian passport with a candle. He was incoherent. He mentioned that the subsequent time he’d be on the airport they’d realize it. He alluded to a undertaking, however was evasive.”

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He returned to the airport in Dorval a number of instances within the following days, in addition to the Mirabel airport, and was requested to go away every time. He was charged with mischief on July 19, 2018, and was declared not criminally liable for his actions on Nov. 7, 2018.

Based on the choice made by the Fee d’examen des troubles mentaux on March 29 this 12 months, he was allowed to stay together with his dad and mom, however on June 23, 2020, his household requested that he be hospitalized due to his “weird and harmful behaviour.”

The tribunal determined, on Jan. 21, 2021, that Shaikh was effectively sufficient to reside exterior the hospital so long as he agreed to stay at a spot authorized by the individuals who have been treating him. He was additionally required to observe therapy and needed to provide urine samples to show he was now not utilizing hashish.

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The choice was reviewed in March as a result of Shaikh had different felony circumstances pending and a psychiatrist decided that Shaikh “nonetheless represents a big threat to public security due to his psychological state.” The psychiatrist additionally beneficial that Shaikh nonetheless reside exterior the hospital “topic to the phrases already in place.”

Based on court docket information, Shaikh nonetheless had a case pending on the Laval courthouse the place he was charged in 2016 with assault and sexual assault. His lawyer within the case declined to touch upon what occurred to Shaikh “out of respect to his household.”

SQ spokesperson Audrey-Anne Bilodeau mentioned the person who was shot on the motel was identified to police as a result of that they had responded to calls up to now reporting that he was affected by a mental-health drawback.

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“The Montreal police answered a number of calls (up to now) for psychological well being (points) associated to this man,” Bilodeau mentioned. “So we don’t know if it’s due to psychological sickness or one other motivation. It’s underneath investigation.

“For the second it appears like (the victims) have been randomly chosen by the suspect. It appears like there isn’t a hyperlink between them and the suspect.”

Bilodeau confirmed that the person who was shot on the motel was a suspect in all three of the homicides.

The primary sufferer was killed at round 9:45 p.m. at Jules-Poitras and Deguire Blvds. close to Roman-Zytynsky Park in St-Laurent. Officers discovered the physique of 64-year-old André Lemieux, the daddy {of professional} boxer David Lemieux. He was shot inside a brief distance from an condo the place he lived on Jules-Poitras Blvd. and was declared lifeless on the scene.

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The second sufferer was Mohamed Salah Belhaj, 48, killed a number of kilometres northeast of the primary capturing, at an intersection close to St-Benoit Park within the Ahuntsic district round 10:50 p.m. He, too, had been shot at the least as soon as within the higher physique and was additionally declared lifeless on the scene.

Montreal police main crimes investigators realized inside hours that the shootings have been associated and, at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Laval police answering a gunshot name discovered the third sufferer, Alexis Levis-Crevier, 22, shot lifeless on Clermont Blvd. within the metropolis’s Laval-des-Rapides district.

Whereas police launched few particulars on how the probes into the three deaths led to Shaikh, Quebec’s workplace of impartial investigations (BEI) mentioned in a a statement issued Thursday morning, {that a} Montreal police SWAT group executed a warrant at a motel on Marcel-Laurin Blvd. at 7 a.m. Thursday.

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The BEI mentioned officers on the scene have been confronted by an armed man, photographs have been fired and the suspect was hit by at the least one bullet. The suspect, 26, was declared lifeless on the scene.

‘You solely go there if it’s for one thing shady’

The Motel Pierre situated on the foremost roadway by means of the St-Laurent borough has been there for many years and has seen higher days. The curtains are outdated and its car parking zone, which was crawling with cops Thursday morning, is cracked and poorly maintained. What may need been a flower mattress close to the motel’s years in the past was clearly not stored up and was overrun with weeds.

Police tape was seen in entrance of the motel in addition to in the back of a small part of constructing.

Two vacationers from France have been sleeping within the motel Thursday morning after they have been woken by the sound of gunfire. The 2 males, who requested that their names not be printed, mentioned they heard at the least three photographs fired.

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A police officer helped them with their belongings as they advised a reporter this was their first evening in Montreal.

“(The police) advised us this doesn’t occur right here on a regular basis,” one of many males joked.

One other vacationer from France left the motel late within the morning towing a suitcase behind her. The younger lady mentioned she had checked out as deliberate and was heading again to France. She mentioned she had been to Montreal 3 times and wouldn’t let the drama that performed out within the motel change her optimistic impression of Montreal.

Roberge Dubé, a person who mentioned he had spent the previous month on the motel, mentioned the police requested him to go away for a part of the day Thursday and advised him he might return hours later.

“I turned on the TV and noticed it,” Dubé mentioned whereas behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang with a few of his belongings packed in rubbish bag on the entrance passenger seat. “I didn’t hear something. I used to be actually shocked. I got here out and there have been police in all places.”

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Darrell Holmes, a St-Laurent resident who lives close to the Motel Pierre, mentioned he determined to take an Uber to work Wednesday evening as a result of he feared for his life after listening to media stories that victims have been being shot at random, including André Lemieux, who was shot in St-Laurent.

“I’m at all times maintaining updated on what’s happening within the information and the truth that it was happening in St-Laurent … you are concerned about these items. I used to be very involved. I wasn’t going to face at a bus cease at evening with what was happening.

“If you happen to stay in St-Laurent you recognize the Motel Pierre is just not the very best place on the planet,” he mentioned. “You solely go there if it’s for one thing shady.

“I wasn’t shocked, not shocked one bit. I used to be disillusioned as a result of St-Laurent is thought to be a protected place to stay. However now I’m beginning to fear. I’m considering perhaps it’s time to maneuver,” Holmes mentioned. “It’s not protected anymore.”

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A person who works at a automobile wash close to Motel Pierre mentioned he wasn’t shocked to be taught a homicide suspect had been gunned down there.

“I’m sorry to say this however that is actually a sh—y space,” the person mentioned, asking that his title not be printed. “There’s typically one thing dangerous happening at that motel. They took a physique out of it months in the past.”

Abdel Mefth, one other St-Laurent resident who lives near the motel, mentioned he was shocked when he wakened and discovered what had occurred simply 400 metres from his house.

“Murders by firearm, they’re changing into extra frequent. It’s actually getting irritating,” Mefth mentioned. “If it actually was random, only for enjoyable, then I don’t see how we will stroll across the metropolis and really feel protected. This motel is admittedly outdated and it has a foul repute.”

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Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante took to social media Thursday morning to thank the police forces concerned within the investigations, saying “As soon as once more our police have proven their effectivity and devotion to the security of Montrealers.”

Plante additionally supplied her condolences to the households of the victims.