The gunman, 26-year-old Abdulla Shaikh, was shot by Montreal police Thursday morning in a motel parking lot during an operation connected to the triple murder. Investigators believe they were accidentally made by the young man. Court records show Shaikh had a criminal record for charges including assault and battery. But a ruling by Quebec’s Administrative Court raises questions about why he was allowed to continue living outside the direct supervision of mental health professionals despite being considered a danger to others. The man’s psychiatrist testified at a hearing in March 2022 that Shaikh had made improvements in his mental state in the six months prior, but there were “persistent concerns”. These concerns included “denial and trivialization of conduct disorders, violence and psychiatric pathology” as well as “the heavy record of criminal charges of various kinds remains negative, which downplays the future risks of the action”. “The Commission accepts from the evidence that [the accused] continues to pose, because of his mental condition, a significant risk to public safety,” the March 29 decision said. A summary of his case showed that Shaikh was released from a mental health facility on Jan. 25, 2021, and ordered to observe several conditions after being found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder for a 2018 crime. During his annual release review, the psychiatrist highlighted concerns about Sheikh’s mental state and public safety risk, citing his patient’s “unpredictable aggressive behaviour” and the treatment team’s lack of access to his family members . However, the doctor advised him to stay out of the mental health facility under several conditions, including staying in a place approved by the head of the hospital, complying with the recommendations of his treatment team, avoiding medication, keeping quiet and having tests urine. The summary said the man appeared near the entrance to Montreal Trudeau Airport and lit his passport with a candle in July 2018. He also visited the airport two other times and was told to leave before he was arrested after trying to break into a secure area of the airport Mirabel.
SUSPECT SHOT DEAD BY POLICE
Shaikh was armed when he was shot and killed by police at the Pierre Motel in Montreal’s Saint-Laurent district around 7 a.m. Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, spokeswoman for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), says police are still working to determine the motives behind the killings. He notes there is nothing to suggest the suspect, who suffered from “mental health issues,” knew the three victims. Police do not believe he had accomplices. As the shooting involves police officers, Quebec’s independent investigation bureau (BEI) has taken over the case.
“I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT”
Montreal’s interim police chief, Sophie Roy, adds that the force worked “around the clock” to find the suspect after the first shooting Tuesday night. “We will continue to work hard to combat gun violence,” she said, offering her condolences to the families of the victims. Still, those who live in the area say the incident has made them think twice about how safe their neighborhood really is. “I saw cops coming out the back of our building and I didn’t know what was going on,” said Beverley Nadeau, who lives nearby. “I can’t believe it, in our area, in our house. Now I’m a little worried to go out.” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante took to Twitter to thank the various police forces involved in Thursday morning’s operation. “In these times we must all work together and trust our authorities in a common goal to ensure the safety of our population,” he wrote. “I would like to express my condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.”
Once again, I would like to express my condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. The investigation is ongoing to understand this tragic series of events. — Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) August 4, 2022 BEI is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact investigators online.
THREE fatal shots
The police intervention comes after three recent murders in Montreal and Laval. The first incident occurred at 9:45 p.m. of Tuesday in the municipality of Saint-Laurent. Police were called to the intersection of Jules-Poitras and Deguire avenues near Roman-Zytynsky Park. “Once on scene, police found the victim shot and wounded in the upper body,” said Montreal police spokeswoman Gabriela Joachim. “The victim died at the scene.” The man was later confirmed to be André Lemieux, the father of professional boxer David Lemieux. A short time later, at 10:50 p.m., officers were called to a shooting in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville area. When police arrived at the intersection of rue Sauvé Ouest and rue Meilleur, near Parc Saint-Benoît, they found a 48-year-old man lying on the ground. “His death was confirmed on the spot,” Youakim said. “No arrests have been made so far.” That victim has been identified as Mohamed Salah Belhaj, an intervention worker at the Albert-Prévost mental health hospital. Then on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m., Laval Police (SPL) were called to a shooting on Clermont Avenue. The victim, a 22-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Laval police spokeswoman Stéphanie Beshara. His body was found next to a skateboard at the crime scene. Police have not released his identity.