New and troubling details have emerged in the deadly Montreal shooting that left three people dead, including a police officer, a bystander and the gunman himself. As the investigation continues, the picture taking shape points to an attack driven by extremist hatred and raises difficult questions about how one of the victims died.
The civilian killed has been identified, with several Jewish organizations confirming that he was Michael Mizrahi, described as a prominent member of that community. His death has deepened the shock felt across Montreal in the aftermath of the violence.
Investigators say the gunman left behind a violent manifesto rooted in the incel movement, a misogynistic ideology that targets women. In the document, the shooter also called for a violent revolution, reframing the rampage as an act of extremist hatred rather than a random outburst.
A sensitive question now hangs over how Mizrahi died. Quebec's domestic security minister said police are aware of a video that appears to show the officer shooting Mizrahi, but he urged the public not to jump to conclusions, stressing that establishing exactly what happened is the purpose of the investigation.
The attack unfolded in the middle of the day. A 911 call came in around 11:30 a.m. from a citizen reporting that someone was shooting, in a densely populated part of Montreal dotted with a hotel, condo high-rises and businesses. Witnesses said they heard dozens of gunshots and watched police descend on the area, including a nearby park.
Residents described scenes of panic. One man who filmed from his condo said he saw parents ripping their children off a playground structure and running for their lives, certain that something serious was unfolding. Another witness, less than a block away, said she saw the gunman reloading his weapon.
Even after the gunman was shot and killed, an emergency alert warned residents of an armed and dangerous suspect, sparking fears of a second shooter. A wide perimeter was thrown up, leading to the evacuation of St. Joseph's Oratory, a historic basilica about five kilometres away. A second civilian and a female police officer were also injured, and the police chief later hailed the officers who responded as heroes.