Laval police investigators announced on Tuesday that they had arrested four suspects, in addition to seizing a firearm and a magazine. Charges of possession of a firearm and breach of conditions will be filed later this week.
Posted at 1:25 p.m.
The “seizure report” published by the Laval Police Department (SPL) indeed mentions a “chambered .45 caliber Glock pistol”, as well as a magazine with 12 ammunition and a telephone. cellular. It was the Organized Crime squad of the police force that made the arrests, which would be linked to “events of urban violence” that have occurred in Laval in recent weeks.
A total of four individuals were arrested. The two main suspects are Kylel Devon Vilmond, a 21-year-old young man, and Mélissa Gingras, a 20-year-old woman. The SPVL also indicated that a 25-year-old woman was also arrested, without however specifying her identity. A fourth minor suspect was also arrested.
The first two remain detained pending legal proceedings, while the other two have been released on a promise to appear. Charges of possession of a firearm and breach of conditions should be filed against these four people, who are expected to appear between July 28 and 29 at the Laval courthouse.
In a press release, the SPL pointed out on Tuesday that “this operation is part of the Laval strategy against the phenomenon of urban violence linked to firearms, which includes a series of concerted and coordinated actions aimed at maintaining public order and enhance the sense of security of the citizens of Laval”.
“These efforts are consistent with the Quebec strategy to fight against armed violence Centaure, which has the mandate to ensure pressure on organized crime and fight against the trafficking of illegal firearms in Quebec,” added the authorities. on this subject.
Investigation still ongoing
Despite the arrests, an investigation is still ongoing to identify other suspects or potential accomplices. Thus, anyone who has relevant information in connection with this file is invited to contact the SPL Info Line, by dialing 450-662-INFO (4636), or 911 by mentioning the file number LVL-220 720-060.
In its annual report published in June, the Laval police revealed that, like Montreal, violent events involving a firearm were also on the rise in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. That year, the SPL had recorded 18 gun discharge episodes, while that number jumped to 40 in 2020 and then to 42 last year.
The Laval police had specified that the shots mainly occurred in public places, and mostly in Chomedey, a red-light district where several shootings have still occurred in recent months. Overall, the annual report had reported a “peak” for crimes against the person last year in Laval, which are up 30% compared to the average of the previous four years.