Montreal North shooting victim being remembered as ‘involved’ and ‘generous’

Generous and involved are just some words used to describe 26-year-old Jayson Colin, a young man shot and killed Wednesday night outside a high school in Montreal North.

“A big loss for the borough and also for the youth of Montreal as well, not only for Montreal North,” said Sacha Wilky-Merazil, a friend and former colleague of Jayson’s.

Many in Montreal North are remembering Jayson as someone who was determined to help others in his community and calling for an end to the violence.

“Jayson was someone who was kind. He always [had] some jokes and he was always willing to help people,” Wilky-Merazil said. “I think he took it from his mother because she’s a community organizer as well in Montreal North.”

On Wednesday night, police say a group of four people were talking outside the school around 10:20 p.m., when two suspects approached and shot at them. Colin was killed and 25-year-old man suffered non-life threatening injuries. Those suspects are still at large.

RELATED:

Two injured, one killed in Montreal North, RDP shootings

“That’s a big loss for his family, for the community as well, and also for everyone who knew Jayson,” said Wilky-Merazil.

Jayson was involved with the CDEC of Montreal North, an economic development community organization.

The CDEC posted to Facebook saying: “Generous, affable and involved, he attended our training because he wanted to start his hockey organization to share his passion with young people who don’t get the opportunity to practice the sport.”

“I saw in him someone who was dedicated to help people, because I remember he once told me that he would help me to learn how to play hockey,” Wilky-Merazil said.

Montreal North borough Mayor Christine Black took to Facebook saying: “Jayson was a dedicated young man, committed to a thousand and one projects, involved in the district, and had unparalleled kindness. Like many other young people in our district, he showed great resilience. The shock is big for Montreal North.”

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante tweeted saying Jayson was : “A young man committed and appreciated in his community. My deepest thoughts to his loved ones. The SPVM will make every effort to investigate.”

C’est avec une grande tristesse que j’ai appris que la victime de l’homicide survenu hier soir est Jayson Colin. Un jeune homme engagé et apprécié dans sa communauté. Mes pensées les plus sincères à ses proches.

Le @SPVM déploiera tous les efforts pour mener l’enquête. #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) August 11, 2022

Colin was the 19th homicide of the year in Montreal.

Around the same time when he was shot Wednesday, in Rivière-des-Prairies, a young woman was slightly injured when at least one shot was fired in the direction of the vehicle in which she was sitting alone.

On Friday, a Montreal police operation was underway, after a 25-year-old woman was shot in Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles overnight. The third shooting in a little more than 24 hours.

READ MORE:

Police operation underway after woman shot in RDP-Pointe-aux-Trembles

“I think as a Montrealer and as a community organizer and as a father as well, we should have a huge discussion and we should see how we can prevent violence from our youth,” said Wilky-Merazil.

Last week, the federal government announced that it will be committing close to $42 million to fight growing gun violence in Quebec.

“Even though you are implicated, even if you are dedicated to help your community, to help people around you,” Wilky-Merazil said, “it doesn’t protect you from the gun violence and the gun crisis that is going on day after day in Montreal.”