The victim of a shooting that occurred on the night of Monday to Tuesday in the borough of Lachine, in Montreal, dragged a heavy criminal past. Well known in the neighborhood, Jonathan Plouffe could have been the victim of his bad associations, believe residents worried by the rise in violence in their area.
Updated yesterday at 6:15 p.m.
The 34-year-old man had more than sixty cases before the courts, including three cases still pending, two for threatening cases and another for assault.
The police were notified of a detonation heard on Richmond Street, not far from Saint-Pierre Avenue, around 11:30 p.m. According to our information, the victim crossed paths with the suspect. A verbal exchange would have followed between the two, then the suspect would have fired on Jonathan Plouffe before fleeing.
The victim was rushed to the upper body and taken to hospital in critical condition. His death was confirmed shortly thereafter. This homicide is the eleventh to have been committed on the territory of the Montreal police since the beginning of the year.
Investigators from the Major Crimes Section are responsible for the investigation. They will try to determine the exact circumstances of this event. On Tuesday, a security perimeter was established around the scene of the tragedy, located in the side alley of a residential building, a stone’s throw from the Saint-Pierre interchange.
fearful neighbors
Several neighbors of the scene confided to The Press having seen Jonathan Plouffe on numerous occasions while he was searching not far from the street corner where he was shot, a very busy place, overlooked by Highway 20.
All refused to be identified as they say they fear for their safety as they witness an increase in violence in the area.
“He was a really nice guy, but he certainly had an explosive temper. The last time I saw him, I said to myself: “It won’t be long before he gets killed”, confided a neighbor of the scene.
According to the latter, Jonathan Plouffe had recently been hired as a “cleaner” by the residents of a building not far from the crime scene who paid him to clean up after parties in their apartments.
“Already, he was picking up rubbish in the street and putting it in the trash. He was a good person, but clearly he had his demons,” she added from her balcony.
“He came to ask me for sunscreen once. He was nice, but we could see that he was not well, ”said another neighbor according to whom Jonathan Plouffe was seen a few days ago with a serious leg injury.
Evicted from his home
The victim divided his time between the street corner where he was shot and his apartment on Windsor Avenue, not far from there.
Broken window, upturned furniture, waste scattered on the ground: the accommodation he lived in until recently was completely upside down, was able to see The Press.
Reached by telephone, its owner was unaware of the events of the previous day. In shock, she testified to the difficulties she had experienced with her deceased tenant whom she claims to have succeeded in evicting on April 13 after steps were taken with the Administrative Housing Tribunal.
He scared everyone in the building, even that the tenants on the same floor had decided to leave.
The owner of the accommodation where Jonathan Plouffe lived
The last traces left by Jonathan Plouffe in the justice system, when he was accused of uttering threats last March, show that he was then also residing at the Old Brewery Mission, a homeless shelter in the city center. from Montreal.
Shock wave
In Lachine, several area residents were in shock on Tuesday. According to Benoit Nadeau, a neighbor of the scene, several shots have been heard lately in the neighborhood.
“It’s just that here. And wait and see this summer, it’s only just begun, ”worried the man who has lived on Richmond Street for five years. “Two weeks ago, it was in the alley next door. »
Indeed, another attempted murder then took place not far from Monday’s tragedy in an alley two blocks away, according to what several local residents said.
This new homicide occurs at the time of the publication of the SPVM’s 2021 annual report according to which crimes against the person are on the rise in Montreal, particularly those involving firearms.
With the collaboration of Daniel Renaud, The Press