Despite a certain lull in shootings, the use of firearms in criminal circles has not decreased in the metropolis this year. Far from there. There are more incidents involving firearms in 2022 than the same period last year, according to data obtained by The Press. The recent shootings in Dorval and Saint-Léonard have rekindled the anxiety of Montrealers in the face of this scourge.
Gun violence made headlines again this week. First following an event that occurred overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday in a residential and uneventful area of Dorval. A 22-year-old man was killed by gunfire, sparking serious concern in the area.
According to our information, this murder is linked to a conflict between a Montreal street gang and a rival gang from Laval.
The day after the tragedy, shots were fired in the crowded parking lot of an IGA supermarket located in the borough of Saint-Léonard in the middle of the afternoon.
The suspects fled before police arrived. Later, a 20-year-old woman and two 17-year-old young men were spotted in a vehicle in Pointe-aux-Trembles. The trio were apprehended by the police. The alleged shooters were detained and investigators were to meet with them later, said officer Raphaël Bergeron, of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).
Police sources also said Thursday that the shots were fired by people who were in two separate vehicles.
116 weapon events
This type of event is now part of the daily lives of Montrealers. The last two years have seen an increase in armed conflict in criminal circles.
The current year could be more significant for firearms than 2021, reveal figures compiled in a report by the National Law Enforcement Support Team. firearms law (ENSALA) for 2022. The document obtained by The Press details the use of firearms for the period from 1er January to September 15, 2022.
There were 116 weapons-related events this year for this period, according to the report. It indicates that 647 casings were recovered by SPVM teams. An impressive figure knowing that the period covered represents only part of the year.
In comparison, ENSALA officials responsible for counting the events report 109 firearm use events for this period in 2021. A total of 499 casings were found by the authorities.
Homicides and attempted murders where guns were used are on the rise, in light of both reports. Thirteen people were shot and killed in 2022, four more than the previous year at the same time.
As for attempted murders, they are also on the rise based on the period for which 2022 data are available. There are 42 this year, against 37 last year to September 15.
Gun discharges are down, however, as reported The Press last October.
For the period covered, there are 50 shooting episodes in 2022, compared to 60 in 2021.
Note: the events involving firearms recorded by NWEST are not limited to shootings, attempted murders and homicides. There are also firearms seized during police operations with proof of use: an injured victim, the presence of a projectile impact or casing. Seizures during a home assault are part of this compilation that paints a picture of the use of weapons. Events of simple possession of a firearm during an arrest are however excluded.
ENSALA reports in a few figures
With the collaboration of Henri Ouellette-Vézina and Frédérik-Xavier Duhamel, The Press