Quebec family wants answers 3 weeks after father, son hit during police shootout in DDO

A family is seeking answers and financial support after a father and son were caught in crossfire during a shootout earlier this month between police and a suspect on Montreal’s West Island.

Houssam Abdallah, 52, remains in hospital and is set to undergo more medical procedures as he recovers from five bullet wounds.

Abdallah’s son, Abdel Rahman, 18, was also struck after a volley of bullets were exchanged between police and a 26-year-old suspect in front of the family’s home in Dollard-des-Ormeaux on Aug. 4.

“I’m tired,” said Sirin El Jundi, Rahman’s mother. “I’m suffering, my family is suffering.”

The suspect was attempting to steal Abdallah’s vehicle shortly before the shooting started.

Abdallah’s daughter, Jana, 22, says she doesn’t know whether her father and brother were shot by police or the suspect — or why her family members were both handcuffed by police after they were injured.

She says she witnessed the whole thing as the family was outside unpacking from a camping trip.

“I stayed to try to help him with the blood,” explained Jana. “And my brother came back and I made him lay on the ground because he was shot in the back and then the cops kept yelling at me to go back inside because I would get shot if I stayed there.”

“Then I went back inside with my father’s blood on my hands.”

She says her father was the family’s primary provider, and she wants to know what financial resources are available to help them — adding that a support worker with a victims’ aid group suggested they ask family and friends for money.

“What happened that night?” asked El Jundi. “And why did it happen to us? Why they left him bleeding?”

“We have to ensure that the questions regarding the police operations and interventions will be assessed impartially and independently and objectively so we’re looking at the possibility of helping file complaints to the among other things the police and the commissioner,” said Fo Niemi, the co-founder and executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR).

Quebec’s police watchdog the BEI is investigating, while the Crime Victims Assistance Centre – CAVAC – says they’ve been in touch with the family. 

But Abdallahs are still waiting for aid from IVAC – which provides financial compensation for victims. 

“We fill a lot of papers, but I don’t know,” said El Jundi. “We sent our request to IVAC, now it has been three weeks.”

IVAC responded to CityNews’ request for comment, by saying that they wouldn’t be able to get back to us in time for our deadline.

Jana wants to see support for her and her family, as she’s been unwell since the shooting – the loud gun shots created pressure that gave her an ear infection and it’s affecting her vocal chords.

“I keep having to fight for our rights,” said Jana. “Fight for my dad, fight for my siblings as well because it’s hard on everyone.”

“It’s hard on me too,” she added. “Fighting to have my voice heard.”