The Montreal Police Department is investigating a man who entered the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal on August 9 with a possible compressed air weapon. No shooting took place in the health establishment.
Posted at 8:43 p.m.
A whole commotion shook the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal in the early evening of Tuesday, August 9. A suspect entered the premises armed with what would be a BB revolver (an air gun), explains Jean-Pierre Brabant, spokesperson for the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).
Remember that, the previous week, three murders in 24 hours by firearm had shaken the metropolis. The suspect was then shot dead by the police in a motel in the borough of Saint-Laurent, and a public inquiry was launched into the four dead.
At the Jewish General Hospital, a Silver code was activated on August 9 to indicate the possible presence of an active shooter. The SPVM was alerted at 5:45 p.m., according to Mr. Brabant.
“All relevant security and communication protocols have been put in place to ensure the safety of patients and staff members,” said Carl Thériault, public relations officer for the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de -Montreal. “Hospital staff took cover, including in patient rooms, and locked the doors. »
A suspect on the run
The SPVM was dispatched to the scene, but the suspect had already left. “The person entered the hospital and came out without doing any damage,” said Mr. Brabant. Investigation procedures [pour la retrouver] are being made as we speak. Our priority was to secure the hospital and the population. »
The Silver code was lifted once the SPVM ruled that there was no active threat. “An all-clear signal was broadcast,” added Mr. Thériault. There was no gunshot. No one was hurt. »
The suspect in question was known to the SPVM services
In addition, at 6:10 p.m., the SPVM was dispatched to the corner of Carlton and Victoria avenues, less than a kilometer from the hospital, for gunshots. On the spot, the police found several projectiles resembling those of a compressed air weapon of the BB revolver type.
There are several types of airguns, some high-powered, that are considered firearms “if used in the commission of a crime,” according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
BB guns are “very dangerous”, according to Agent Brabant. “I don’t think you can kill anyone, but if you’re close you can do damage. [Les projectiles] are small pellets, but which come out at high velocity. »
A link between the two cases was quickly made. The priority for the SPVM is now to find the man suspected of having acted in both cases.
“For the moment, we are trying to locate this man, supports Mr. Brabant, in order to be able to proceed either to his arrest or, at least, to question him to find out what happened. »