Fatal fire in Old Montreal | Suspect behind bars for another crime

The man was once one of the ten most wanted criminals in Quebec

The individual who allegedly started the fire that left seven dead in Old Montreal last March is already behind bars, but for another crime, we have learned The Press.

The man, who would have already been on the list of the ten most wanted criminals in Quebec, would have tried to confuse the Major Crimes investigators by posing as a homeless person, whose identity he would have usurped, when the Bloodhounds encountered him last spring, in the weeks following the tragedy.

According to our information, it was a police officer from neighborhood station 21, who knows the homeless in the area, who realized that the man targeted by SPVM Major Crime investigators was not the man he claimed to be. be, and who let them know that the individual was trying to fool them.

The suspect, who was wanted for another crime unrelated to the fire, was therefore arrested, but has still not been charged in relation to the fire in Old Montreal, homicide investigators from SPVM continuing to amass their evidence.

It is still unknown why the man would have set fire to the building on Place d’Youville, killing seven people.

According to our information, the homeless man whose identity the suspect allegedly stole has been missing for several months, and the police are wondering about this disappearance.

“We do not have the right to comment specifically on the progress of a criminal investigation. The investigators committed no illegal actions and no errors. Our biggest concern is the families of the victims and the insecurity they experience each time an article is published,” reacted SPVM spokesperson, Inspector David Shane.

The fire that occurred on the night of March 16 claimed the lives of seven people, leaving many families in mourning and shaking the entire province. Most of the victims were only passing through Montreal or had rented accommodation through the Airbnb platform. An Wu, a 31-year-old American academic, died in the blaze, as did Dania Zafar and Saniya Khan, two childhood friends from Pakistan.

Nathan Sears and Camille Maheux, the only permanent resident of the building among the victims, also met a tragic end. Finally, Walid Belkahla and Charlie Lacroix, both 18 years old, were trapped in the apartment they had rented for the night, but which had no windows. “We can’t go out,” Charlie Lacroix reportedly said during a 911 call.

In addition to these victims, nine other people were injured, and six escaped the burning building unharmed.

A major investigation

Over the past few days, THE Montreal Journal published two articles in which the author reported that the investigators had made blunders, that some had little experience and that there was bickering within the investigation teams.

The mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, reiterated her complete confidence in the investigators; the SPVM and its leader, Fady Dagher, have denied any blunders in this matter.

In addition to the Major Crimes investigators, their colleagues from the Arson Division of the SPVM, investigators from the Montreal Fire Department and those from the Régie du logement are also looking into this matter.

In addition to the murder investigation, authorities are considering charges of criminal negligence causing death.

In addition to the police investigation, civil actions have been taken by victims’ families.

The owner of the building, Émile Benamor, is suing the City of Montreal, calling into question the municipal policy governing heritage buildings.

According to certain elements of the investigation, there was at least one fire at the front of the building, and gasoline was used to light the blaze.

With the collaboration of Bruno Marcotte and Henri Ouellette-Vézina, The Press

To contact Daniel Renaud, call 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.