Twenty-eight shooting events occurred in Montreal during the first three months of this year, compared to 36 during the same period in 2023, a decrease of 22%.
This is revealed by preliminary data provided to The Press by the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM). The 28 events of 2024 are broken down as follows: five murders, as many attempted murders and 18 firearm discharges towards buildings, vehicles or others.
Twenty-eight events for a first quarter, this is the lowest figure recorded since the start of the outbreak of armed violence in Montreal in December 2019. For the first three months of 2020, there were 35 events, 30 for the same period in 2021, 41 in 2022 and 36 last year.
If this year’s figure is the lowest in five years, the start of 2024 is still the most lethal, with five gunshot murders committed during the first quarter, compared to one in 2023, three in 2022 and 2021, and two in 2020.
Two firearms seized per day
During the first three months of this year, 182 firearms were seized by SPVM police officers. Each time a drop in gunshot events is recorded, SPVM officials are satisfied, but remain aware that an increase in violence can occur at any time.
It is difficult to explain this decline, but the SPVM has adopted various measures and strategies in recent years to reduce the number of events and reassure the population.
Individuals known to be gun users have been arrested for two years.
Last year, the police force set up “collectives”, a new prevention and repression strategy targeting individuals at risk. The SPVM also added personnel to the fight against armed violence as part of an offensive called Stop.
The numbers of the Eclipse squad, specialized in gathering intelligence on organized crime and monitoring bars, have been significantly increased over the past two years. There are also investigators from the Multi-Sector Teams Dedicated to Firearms (EMAF) and their Narcotics colleagues in the North-East and South-West regions who tackle the phenomenon on a daily basis.
Finally, the SPVM is supported by other police forces, including the Sûreté du Québec, through the Integrated Teams to Combat Arms Trafficking (EILTA) as part of the Quebec Centaure strategy to combat armed violence.
According to a compilation made by The Pressat least two shooting events have occurred in Montreal since the beginning of May – during the first six days – including a double attempted murder committed around 11:20 p.m. Sunday evening, at the corner of 42e Avenue and rue Saint-Joseph, in the borough of LaSalle.
To contact Daniel Renaud, call 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.