Attempted murder of a police officer: “My God, he just shot, he took his gun!”

The violent attack on a police officer who was disarmed and shot took place in front of a witness, the Crown noted during its pleadings during which it reviewed the evidence against the accused.

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“There is a policeman who is being beaten… Oh, my God, he just shot, he took his gun!” said a woman, who witnessed the scene.

This element, among several others, is part of the prosecution evidence that the Crown summarized this Monday at the Montreal courthouse at the trial of Ali Ngarukiye.

Ngarukiye, 24, has been on trial since September for attempted murder against police officer Sanjay Vig. The attack occurred on January 28, 2021, along Highway 40 in Montreal. At that time, the officer was stopping motorist Mamadi Camara for holding a cell phone while driving when he was hit from behind with an iron bar. He was then disarmed before being shot by the assailant who had grabbed his service weapon.

Surveillance footage, although poor quality, shows the attack.

“Look carefully at the silhouettes,” pleaded M^e Jasmine William of the Crown.

According to the Crown, Ngarukiye can be seen attacking Agent Vig, while Mamadi Camara is in his vehicle. On this subject, M^e Guillaume reiterated that the interception of the motorist should not be considered racial profiling.

“The police officer was carrying out a cell operation while driving, he was doing his job like any other day,” insisted the prosecutor.

Mosque

According to the prosecution, Ngarukiye prepared his attack several days in advance, by stealing cars and placing them in strategic locations, which suggests that he premeditated his attack.

However, if Agent Vig’s assailant was masked, he would have left several traces, particularly in the stolen cars. Thus, the day after the attack, he purchased a safety jacket, the receipt for which was found in one of these vehicles.

The investigation also established that Ngarukiye then left for Toronto to meet people in a mosque. It was also in the Ontario metropolis that the accused was arrested, before being repatriated to Montreal.

The Crown’s pleadings will continue on Wednesday. Those of Ngarukiye’s lawyers will follow. The latter, who pleaded not guilty, did not present a defense, as is his right.

At the start of the trial, Judge François Dadour reminded the jurors that Ngarukiye did not have to prove his innocence, and that it was rather up to the Crown to convince them of his guilt.