No gun was seized from teen shot dead by Longueuil police: BEI

The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) – Quebec’s police watchdog – provided an update on Tuesday morning on their investigation into a police intervention on Sunday in Longueuil that resulted in the death of 15-year-old Nooran Rezayi.

In the press conference, the BEI said that as of Tuesday morning a total of 15 witnesses have been met with, including police officers, members of the neighbourhood, and some youth that were present at the time of the incident.

Brigitte Bishop, director of the BEI explained that they also recovered footage of the incident – they have a total of seven videos at this moment, and these will be analyzed.

She also added that a police firearm, a backpack, ski masks, and baseball bat were seized.

“We seized the gun, the gun that was used by the police officer,” said Bishop. “And the gun is at the lab.”

“We are waiting for the ballistics report,” she added.

Bishop expressed concern that witnesses are conducting their own “private investigation.” She fears the evidence could be contaminated.

The BEI is asking the public to contact them should they have any information on the incident.

The teenager died Sunday after a police intervention by the Longueuil Police (SPAL). The youth was hit by “at least one” police shot.

“In response to the numerous questions we have received, we confirm that the SPAL police officer involved in the incident currently under investigation by the BEI, which occurred on Sunday, September 21, is on indefinite leave from work. His status will be reassessed at the end of this leave, if necessary, based on the findings of the investigation that will be communicated to us by the BEI.,” explained the SPAL in a statement to CityNews.

The family’s attorney, Fernando Belton, said in an interview on Tuesday that the family is in mourning but has many questions.

“The family wants to focus on the enormous loss of Nooran’s death,” Belton said. “And it’s clear that this is a family that has many questions about why these young people were targeted by the police.”

The lawyer noted there was no criminal offence or violation reported — just youth occupying a public space, which in the lawyer’s opinion is perfectly legal. 

The family also wants to know why it took so long to inform them of Nooran’s death. While the shooting occurred about 3 p.m., it wasn’t until 8 p.m. the family learned about his whereabouts in hospital, the lawyer said.

Belton adds that all options are on the table when it comes to possibly pursuing legal action.

‘I want to see the circumstances surrounding this event fully investigated’

“I can assure you that the SPAL is fully aware of the many questions and the pain experienced by the loved ones of the young victim,” wrote the Patrick Bélanger, Director of the Longueuil Police (SPAL), on Tuesday afternoon. “The entire Longueuil community, including SPAL staff, has been going through a very difficult time since Sunday.”

“We understand the profound sadness felt by the family, friends, and all those who knew this young man. We sincerely share their grief,” added Bélanger. “The SPAL is cooperating fully with the BEI. […] I would like to emphasize that the legal framework surrounding this investigation limits the communications that the SPAL can have with the family and the media. Strict rules govern the information we are allowed to share with the public and media representatives. Like you, I want to see the circumstances surrounding this event fully investigated.”

On Monday afternoon, at the corner of Joseph-Daignault and Monaco streets in a residential neighbourhood of Longueuil’s Saint-Hubert district, about 15 teenagers, students at André-Laurendeau High School, gathered at the spot where one of their friends lost his life on Sunday.

“But why did they shoot this 15-year-old boy, why did they fire two bullets?” asks Moustapha Tamani, the father of a girl who was friends with the victim.

“He was a good boy, a boy who was trying to find himself, who wanted to grow up, a happy boy,” adds Tamani, who accompanies the group of young people gathered at the scene of the tragedy, where drops of blood are still visible on the sidewalk.

According to preliminary information from the BEI, released Monday morning, officers from the SPAL responded shortly before 3 p.m. on Sunday after being informed about a group of armed individuals who were moving around in a public place.

Police have not confirmed the age and identity of the victim.

However, the Marie-Victorin School Service Center confirmed the death of one of its students on Sunday.

Two people who live in the neighbourhood and prefer to remain anonymous told The Canadian Press that on Sunday afternoon, dozens of teenagers dressed in black and wearing masks marched through the neighbourhood.

When asked what they were doing in the neighbourhood, the young people reportedly replied that they were preparing to shoot a video in the nearby woods.

One of the people interviewed by the news agency explained that, a few minutes after this interaction, shots were fired and she saw a bloodied teenager lying in the street.

The 911 call was made at 2:48 p.m., and police officers reportedly arrived on the scene at around 2:58 p.m. At that point, the officers reportedly made contact with members of the group.

One person was then reportedly shot by police. First aid was reportedly administered by police officers until the arrival of paramedics, according to the BEI.

The person was pronounced dead at the hospital.

“I think it’s important for the public just to wait and have confidence on this investigation,” said Stéphane Wall, retired SPVM police officer who specializes in the judicious use of force.

“It’s not easy. It’s not a situation very easy, not for the police officer, not for the family,” he added. “But the citizen have to have confidence with the system.”

“There’s no police officer that they get up in the morning and tell, ‘oh, today, yes, I’m going to shoot somebody.’ It’s not like that,” he said. “The situation, the decision, you have to take sometimes to protect another life or protect your life. You have the decision, maybe in two or three seconds, to think about that.”

“I know that because I was involved in my career in that kind of decision,” explained Wall. “So I know how much is difficult to take the decision. It’s not easy. It’s not, it’s really not easy.”

Rezayi’s family meanwhile is grieving and preparing for his funeral, the teenager’s uncle said Tuesday.

“There isn’t anything more to say, the family is broken,” Ali Khamedi said in a brief phone exchange.

The BEI launches investigations “in all cases where a person other than a police officer on duty dies, suffers a serious injury, or is injured by a firearm used by a police officer during a police intervention or while in police custody.”

-With files from The Canadian Press