Laval shooting in a restaurant leaves one man dead, linked to organized crime

A 42-year-old man is dead after being shot inside a Laval restaurant on Wednesday night.

Sûreté du Québec (SQ) identified the victim as Bernard Cherfan, with ties to organized crime.

Police say calls came into 911 around 7:25 p.m. of gunfire inside “La Perle Vietnamienne” restaurant on des Laurentides Blvd., in the Vimont district.

One or more suspects entered the restaurant, shot the man as he was sitting at a table eating with three others, and fled the scene.

Many customers, including families celebrating birthdays, and staff, were also inside at the time, but the suspect went straight for the victim, then fled.

People inside took cover under tables.

The SQ was not able to provide a physical description of the suspect – witnesses said he fled on foot on des Laurentides Blvd. and that the others sitting with the victim at the time of the shooting also fled.

“Unfortunately onsite [Laval police] found a man of 42 years old with major injuries. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead. Immediately Laval investigator begin to investigate the scene and the surrounding area – and it was leading us to think that this murder was linked to organized crime,” said Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, SQ spokesperson.

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“This is the reason why they transferred this investigation to the Sûreté du Québec. It’s the crime against the person unit who have the expertise to investigate a murder related to organized crime, especially with the strategy CENTAUR that we heard about, because it’s related to a firearm,” explained Bilodeau.

Authorities were still on the scene Thursday morning, working inside and outside the restaurant, as well as checking surveillance cameras for more.

Plates and food, were still visible inside the restaurant, right where things had been left as everything unfolded the night before.

An investigation is ongoing.

Some customers and others coming back to pickup their vehicles after they left the scene Wednesday night without them, as police had protected the area amid their initial investigation.

A command post was set up to gather information from anyone with any knowledge of the case.