Montreal police killed a suspect after a shooter in camouflage opened fire in a busy neighborhood, leaving two people dead and at least one officer wounded; authorities say a manifesto exists but are holding details while investigators probe motive and identity.

Montreal saw a bloody incident yesterday when someone in camouflage began shooting inside a grocery store in the Côte-des-Neiges area. Two people died, one a police officer and one a civilian, and another officer was wounded before police returned fire and neutralized the attacker. Officials have confirmed the suspect was shot by police, and they say they are withholding details of a manifesto linked to the incident.

A suspect armed with a long gun opened fire on Monday at a Montreal hotel, killing a police officer before officers returned fire, killing him, police said. A civilian also died but it wasn’t immediately clear who fired that shot.

The police chief, Fady Dagher, said a second officer was seriously injured in the shooting in the city’s Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood but is in stable condition.

Dagher said it was the first time in 24 years that a Montreal police officer had been killed in the line of duty. “It’s a very, very sad day. It’s a nightmare,” he told reporters. Such shooting incidents in Montreal are rare.

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The shooting occurred in a partly Jewish neighbourhood that includes kosher markets and restaurants, but police declined to comment on a possible motive.

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A police spokesperson in British Columbia said forces across the province were told of the possibility of “documentation or some type of manifesto” calling for police to be targeted with violence.

Authorities have confirmed a manifesto exists, but they are declining to share specifics while investigations continue. The suspect described himself as an “incel,” who was also anti-capitalist and anti-liberal. Beyond that label and the reference to a manifesto, officials have been cautious about releasing further motive details.

Montreal police “neutralized” a suspect this afternoon. The shooter is linked to the misogynistic “incel” (involuntary celibate) subculture and, according to Radio-Canada, distributed a violent incel manifesto targeting women.

Quebec’s domestic security minister said the shooting is unrelated to recent out-of-province shootings and remains a “domestic case.” 

Investigators are also being pressed about whether the civilian victim was a member of Montreal’s Jewish community, since the attack happened in a partly Jewish neighborhood. Police have not confirmed any religious or ethnic identity for the civilian, and they say some video evidence and witness accounts are still under review. Officials have asked the public to allow the watchdog and police time to examine footage and documents before drawing conclusions.

Quebec’s Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière said police are aware of a video online that appears to show an officer shooting a civilian, but he wouldn’t comment given the ongoing investigation by the province’s police watchdog.

There have also been questions about whether the civilian killed was a member of Montreal’s Jewish community.

Asked during a 3 p.m. news conference whether one of the victims was Jewish, Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher told reporters he did not have that information.

Local media outlets published images and footage that reportedly show the suspect carrying a long firearm and moving through the area, but timelines and context remain under verification. Radio-Canada has said the suspect handed out a manifesto that targeted women and called for violent action, and that connection is part of the probe. Authorities in other provinces were notified to be alert for any related documentation or messaging tied to the case.

Our colleagues at Radio-Canada obtained this photo showing the suspect. You can see he appears to be holding a gun, and it looks like a long weapon. 

He also looks like he’s on the move. It’s unclear at what point of the day this footage was taken.

The shooter has been linked to the misogynistic “incel” (involuntary celibate) subculture.

Members of the group commonly express exasperation over their inability to find a romantic or sexual partner, sometimes blaming women. 

Radio-Canada was able to confirm that the shooter distributed a violent incel manifesto targeting women. The manifesto called for a violent revolution, invoking masculinist arguments.

Some outlets have reported antisemitic motives, but police insist they have not confirmed that element and are keeping an open investigative posture. The civilian who was killed has been identified as Michael Mizrahi, and the officer killed was Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, who joined the force in 2021. Families, colleagues, and the city are reacting to a rare and tragic event while questions about motive and full context remain unresolved.

Investigators continue to examine the manifesto, video, and witness statements, and officials say more details will be released as they are confirmed. In the meantime, the community and law enforcement are processing the loss and the unusual nature of a deadly attack in a city where such incidents are uncommon.