‘Not safe anywhere’: Laval residents share safety concerns after Starbucks shooting with reported link to organized crime

Shocked and scared. That’s the feeling from Laval residents a day after a shooting at a Starbucks coffee shop off Highway 440 that reportedly saw the alleged leader of a highly influential organized crime group gunned down in broad daylight.

“I live like right next to it. And obviously I go to Starbucks really often. So I was really, really scared,” Laval’s Charlie Fisette told CityNews Thursday. “I was really shocked. Honestly, really, really, really shocked.”

“It’s a little scary,” said another Laval resident. “It hit close to home. You know, we go there a lot. We’re at the gas station around the area. And our kids, our kids are always there.”

Laval police were still on the scene Thursday morning, with a perimeter blocking off the Starbucks — the scene of the shooting. Authorities believe organized crime was behind it, according to Quebec’s public security minister, though the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) — which is leading the investigation — did not confirm that information.

Surveillance video obtained by TVA Nouvelles shows what appears to be two suspects entering the Starbucks and walking right to the victims. The shooting itself has been blurred, but the two suspects can then be seen running out, while customers and workers take cover.

“It was a little shocking,” said Laval’s Mike Lobbasso. “You know, I mean, the world’s gone absolutely mad right now. So we’re not safe anywhere, to be honest with you.”

Charalambos Theologou, 40, may have been the target of the shooting. Police have not identified the deceased or the other two victims, but a spokesperson said all three were “possibly” connected to each other. No “innocent bystanders” were physically injured.

CityNews spoke to someone from a clinic in a neighbouring building and they confirm that a medical team went to the scene when they heard what happened. The victim is said to have been confirmed dead on the scene.

Not all Laval residents responded to the shooting fearfully. “My concerns are rather minimal, given that I don’t come into contact with these people, and I don’t know them,” Normand told CityNews.

But most who spoke to CityNews expressed a high degree of concern.

“You know, there could have been stray bullets just hitting… It’s such a crowded, Starbucks has a lot of people there in the mornings,” one person said. “It could have hit anybody, like… And just witnessing it is scary enough.”

“A shooting in broad daylight, around innocent citizens, is completely unacceptable,” Laval Nayor Stéphane Boyer wrote on social media Wednesday. “The employees and customers of the affected businesses should never have experienced such a situation here at home. My thoughts are with them. Laval is a peaceful city, and I want to reassure the population: our police officers are fully mobilized to find those responsible. I have complete confidence in the SPL and the SQ. This type of crime has no place in our city.”

Former Sûreté du Québec police officer Paul Laurier shared his thoughts on the surveillance footage.

“I saw two guys come in very quickly,” said Laurier, wo is currently the CEO of Vigiteck. “They went to the right place, they did their job and then went out. So what it’s telling me, there’s probably some more people who helped them to do the job. Because the victim, the main victim in the shooting, was aware that his life was threatened by someone else.”

The Sûreté du Québec took over the investigation Wednesday and say there have been no arrests, but that police are searching for one or many suspects.

“Could be the bikers, could be the mafia, could be someone inside the organization,” Laurier said. “But now Sûreté du Québec has a command post in Laval, and they are taking any clue and information.

“It’s a big, very large job to try to resolve this case.”

Starbucks Coffee Canada says it is working with local authorities to support the investigation.

“We are devastated to have learned of the incident that occurred at our coffeehouse in Laval, Quebec yesterday morning,” the company told CityNews in a statement Thursday. “Our hearts are with our customers, their families and the community of Laval.

“All of our partners (employees) are safe and receiving the care and support they need.”

Retired Montreal police officer and mafia expert Pietro Poletti said Wednesday the incident reflects a disturbing trend.

“Obviously somebody drives around with a bulletproof truck with three bodyguards is not delivering food baskets to the poor,” Poletti said. “So I think it’s an awakening. It’s out of control.

“They’re very young individuals that have access to guns and on broad daylight at 10:30 in the morning in a shopping centre, shooting with a machine gun, something’s wrong with our society.”