A petty drug dealer met a tragic end this weekend, after being crushed by bullets on a sidewalk in Little Italy, Montreal.
“I knew he was selling pot, that stuff, but other than that… [Pour qu’il lui arrive quelque chose de] serious as well? No, “said a good acquaintance of Steven Marques on Monday, preferring to conceal his identity.
“He never hurt me. He was a good person. It is sad. My heart is upside down, ”continued the man who found it hard to believe, while meditating in front of the garden of the one he had been around since primary school, in the Villeray district.
Saturday evening, around 10:55 p.m., Marques, 46, was at the corner of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Jean-Talon East Street, in Little Italy, about two kilometers from his home, when he was hit in the upper body by projectiles from a firearm.
Photo taken from Facebook
Steven Marks
Seventh murder of the year
He was quickly taken to a hospital. However, he passed away in the morning, making him the victim of the seventh homicide to occur this year on the territory of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).
The same evening, a perimeter was erected to allow the police to collect clues that could lead them to the perpetrator(s) of this murder, which looks like a settling of scores. The canine unit was also required.
On Monday, investigators were still looking for surveillance cameras in this sector which, according to our information, is recognized as an environment where drug consumption reigns.
The victim was also known to the authorities, confirmed SPVM agent Raphaël Bergeron.
His criminal record bears witness to this, while Steven Marques had a history of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cannabis, negligent use of a firearm in a marital context, thefts and entry by breaking in.
The man began his criminal career in the 1990s and still had active cases in court.
Mistake on the person?
Despite this, one of Marques’ relatives, who preferred to preserve her anonymity, believes that this sneak attack could be a mistake on the person.
“I don’t think it was meant for him. He was not alone, she said to the Log. There are many witnesses. We really hope to come to the end of this story and that justice is done. »
Then, she described the deceased as a “kind, funny, and loved by all” man.
“He had a huge heart, and was always ready to help. Steven has a family who loved him very much and a daughter who will no longer have a father, “said the latter, saddened by the tragedy.