The attack on the house of the mother of an influential kingpin on Saturday is part of a trend of targeting family members in Quebec’s underworld and could give rise to a bloody response, according to former investigators.
• Read also: The residence of the mother of boss Jean-Philippe Célestin targeted by gunfire
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“What at the beginning seemed to be an isolated event is in the process of repeating itself,” analyzes Roger Ferland, former investigator with the Quebec City Police Department.
He refers to the increase in recent months in attacks against loved ones in the criminalized world.
- Listen to the interview with François Doré, former Sûreté du Québec police officer, on Alexandre Dubé via QUB :
“THE free-for-all»
“Before, crime was very hierarchical. We respected the life of the criminal and his family life. Now it’s the free-for-all and everything is possible,” maintains Mr. Ferland.
Some use the expression “code of honor” to talk about these lines that should not be crossed within organized crime.
However, André Gélinas, former investigator at the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM), does not believe that such a code exists.
“I no longer believe that there was a modus operandi, but more and more the methods that are imported from outside mean that it is no longer worth much,” he explains.
“Street gangs don’t really have a code of honor. They attack anything, anyone,” says Jean-Claude Gauthier, also a former SPVM investigator.
Response coming?
In the case of Jean-Philippe Célestin, attacks targeting those around him have increased in recent weeks.
His brother and right-hand man Brandon Jean Célestin was killed in the street in Montreal last month, then a man with whom he had close ties died in a fight last Thursday in a Terrebonne bar.
After all this and the attack at his mother’s house, “we find ourselves in a fairly emotional situation [pour Célestin], believes Mr. Gélinas. He can’t let this happen, otherwise what will happen?”
The ex-investigators to whom The newspaper spoke believe that we can expect a response, or even a “coup”, from him.
“He is excessively violent. This is not something that will go unanswered. But is he able to fight back?”, asks Mr. Gauthier.