BEI to investigate after Montreal police shoots at alleged suspects

Quebec’s police watchdog, the BEI, has launched an investigation into a shooting involving Montreal police (SPVM).

According to the investigation, the incident occurred around 4:28 p.m. on Wednesday in the Côte-des-Neiges–NDG borough, when SPVM officers attempted to apprehend individuals in a vehicle that had allegedly been stolen.

During the attempted intervention, the SUV is said to have moved towards the police officers, prompting one of them to open fire in its direction near St-Jacques and Girouard streets.

One of the occupants of the vehicle was seriously injured by the gunfire and was taken to hospital.

The person’s condition is still considered critical, according to a press release by the BEI early Thursday morning.

At a second scene, not far away, SPVM patrol cars were parked near the intersection of Upper Lachine Road and Melrose Ave. where another SUV was abandoned.

Six BEI investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding the police intervention, while a criminal investigation into the initial events have been entrusted to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).

A forensic identification technician from the BEI was on site to analyze the scene.

The BEI investigates all cases when a person dies, suffers a serious injury or is injured by a firearm used by a police officer during a police intervention.

They are asking anyone who may have witnessed this event, who might have video footage of the incident, to contact them via their website.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews