19-year-old charged in connection to death of young child in Bois-des-Filion
Posted November 7, 2023 9:15 am.
Last Updated November 7, 2023 7:39 pm.
A 19-year-old man has been charged with criminal negligence in the death of a young child Monday night in a Montreal suburb.
Yacine Mehennaoui appeared by video at the courthouse in Laval, on Tuesday afternoon. According to his charge sheet, he faces three counts: criminal negligence causing the death of the child; possession of a prohibited, loaded firearm without authorization or a valid permit; and obstruction of justice. The obstruction charge is related to him allegedly trying to destroy evidence. He’s due back in court on Wednesday.
Court documents say Mehennaoui lived at the home in which the child was found, in Bois-des-Filion, about 20 kilometres north of Montreal.
The municipal force that initially investigated the killing said three people had been arrested. But Quebec provincial police, who took over the case, said two suspects had been released and that the investigation was ongoing – 17 and 19 years old. It’s unclear if they could still be charged at a later date.
A provincial police spokesperosn said Tuesday that the force had taken over the case because it involved a particular type of investigation, but didn’t specify.
Neither the local police nor the provincial police would say what link existed between the young victim and the suspect.
“There were people present at the residence yesterday night, it might be that some of them were arrested, I can’t confirm whether those that were arrested were inside,” said captain David Provencher of the Terrebonne Service de Police.
Divers from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) were searching the Rivière des Mille-Îles but would not reveal why or what they were looking for.
“It’s a serious investigation and there’s some things I can’t tell you for now,” said Provencher.
“We are trying to find anything that would be linked to this case.”
Emergency services were called to a residence on 34th Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Monday to attend to the child, whose age and sex have yet to be confirmed. The child was suffering from serious injuries.
Despite resuscitation efforts, the young victim was pronounced dead on the scene.
Forensic identification technicians were on the scene amid the investigation.
Neighbours were in disbelief on Tuesday morning. A makeshift memorial of stuffed animals was at the corner of the street in honour of the young victim.
“A lot of grief,” said Diane Berlinguette, who brought a stuffed animal to the scene. “A lot of pain.”
Berlinguette explained she didn’t know the child, but just wanted to bring the toy “for a little comfort.”
“It’s surprising, we’ve never had anything happen around here,” added resident Suzanne Lefebvre. “We’re upset, since it’s a child involved.”
“We hope the police find something because it’s not easy considering it’s a child.”
The police force invites anyone with information about this event to contact them confidentially at 450-471-4121 or via the Crime Stoppers line at 1-800-711-1800.
–With files Alyssia Rubertucci
