3 men injured, including innocent bystanders, after shootout between suspect and police in Dollard-des-Ormeaux

Three people were seriously injured after dozens of shots were reportedly fired Sunday night, in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, in Montreal’s West Island, between a suspect and police.

The shooting broke out just after 8 p.m., at the corner of De Salaberry Boulevard and Davignon Street, in a residential and commercial area.

“Around 8:15 we were inside with our kids and then we heard about like six or seven gunshots. People screaming. We went outside, then we started to hear all the police come,” said Alissa Seguin.

Witnesses who called 911 said they heard between 30 and 40 shots fired.

“At first it was like one to two shots. And then afterwards it just kept on going back to back,” described Laura Sofia Izquierdo, who lives in the neighbourhood.

“I heard as if like very banging noises. Like, I can hear them from inside of my apartment. So like bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. And it would keep on going.”

A stray bullet hit the window of a home on Davignon Street, where a seven-year-old child lives.

“Normally, I take walks with my daughter around that time to go to the park, just to go ahead and take a breather,” said Izquierdo. “And to know that this happened at 8 p.m. is something that I’m completely scared about, to even taking walks around that time.”

Neighbours said it came as a shock to them, calling the area peaceful.

“We’ve never had issues before,” said Madeeha Tariq. “But now I think we’re all going to be a little bit more on edge and concerned about our loved ones.”

According to the Quebec’s Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), the province’s police watchdog, a person reportedly called 911 to report that an argument had broken out at their home and that they had heard gunshots.

“It was more than five shots,” said Sherif Yahaya. “When we heard more than five shots, we knew it wasn’t a firework, it was a gunshot.

“Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, yeah, continuously.”

One of the people involved in the dispute reportedly left the residence on foot and encountered a motorist.

This person allegedly pointed a firearm at the motorist; the driver reportedly left and the subject continued on foot — heading towards a second vehicle near which there were three people.

The police reportedly arrived at the scene and there was an exchange of gunfire between the officers and the subject.

“We heard a bunch of sirens coming all around the neighborhood, all around the building,” said Tariq. “And then when we looked outside, we tried to go outside to see what was wrong. The cops, they had their guns out and they were saying to get inside and to stay away from the windows, which was really scary.”

3 men in serious condition

Three men were reportedly wounded by gunfire. Two of the three men shot are believed to be innocent bystanders — a father and son living in the area.

The conditions of the three wounded by gunfire are currently stable, the BEI said.

“From where the bullets came, from the criminal, from the police,” recounted Mohamed Alashi, a neighbour of the two bystanders. “But you know, my neighbour is between us, between the two sides, you understand? But he and his son, he takes the bullets. He four bullets in his back. And his son, one bullet in his back.”

The third man injured, who is believed to be the suspect, is expected to survive.

When the police arrived, they were delayed from helping the first two victims because a suspect was in a vehicle still firing a weapon, and they would have been caught in the crossfire.

When the police tried to apprehend the suspect, gunfire was exchanged between at least one suspect and police officers.

Because of the circumstances, it was hard for police officers to initially decipher who the victims and who the suspects were.

“We’re all shocked,” said Errol Johnson, deputy mayor of DDO. “We didn’t expect this to happen, you know? But these things happen sometimes in cities. And we’re doing our very best to make sure that it’s attended to properly and allow the police to do their investigation.”

The investigation will be taken over by the BEI. They ask anyone who may have witnessed this event to contact them via their website.

The SQ is conducting a parallel criminal investigation.