Relief for the family, the police and the population: a first suspect in the murder of Meriem Boundaoui, shot in the head at the age of 15 in broad daylight in Montreal in February 2021, was apprehended Monday by the Montreal Police Service (SPVM).
Updated yesterday at 11:52 p.m.
“What we wish is peace to the soul of my sister and to the souls of all the victims. Especially young victims. I trust. I thank Canadian security, more particularly Quebec,” said Safia Boundaoui, Meriem’s sister, accompanied by members of her family, as they left the courtroom. “We are happy, but we are waiting for the trial to see what happens next,” said Safia’s spouse, Samir Bouchoul.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Safia Boundaoui, sister of Meriem
Pure coincidence: Meriem’s parents, who live in Algeria, are currently visiting Quebec, with their two other daughters. All family members attended the appearance of the accused, which was done by videoconference.
It took 16 months for investigators to get their hands on a first suspect, Salim Touaibi, 26. The young man was charged with the first degree murder of Meriem Boundaoui Monday afternoon at the Montreal courthouse. He was also charged with attempted murder of four other people who were at the scene when the crime was committed. The case was adjourned to July 22.
“It was a long investigation, the investigators worked very hard to gather the evidence. Meriem Boundaoui had nothing to do with any of that. He was an innocent victim of a crime that should never have been committed. I’m very happy,” he told The Press former SPVM chief Sylvain Caron, who was still in office when the investigation was launched.
The mayoress of Montreal, Valérie Plante, was also delighted with the progress of the investigation. “Congratulations to the SPVM, which apprehended a suspect in connection with the murder of Meriem Boundaoui. Rest assured that we are working hard to keep Montreal safe and to prevent crimes like this. And our efforts are paying off,” she said on Twitter.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FAMILY
Meriem Boundaoui in 2020
An innocent victim
The young girl, originally from Algeria, who was in Quebec to study and who lived with her sister in La Prairie, was shot dead on February 7, 2021. She was to be 16 the following month.
She was with a friend, passenger in a car immobilized in the parking lot of a bakery on rue Jean-Talon, in the Petit Maghreb, in the borough of Saint-Léonard, when the crime occurred. Three projectiles passed through the window of the car in which Meriem Boundaoui was riding before hitting the 15-year-old girl in the head.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Meriem Boundaoui was fatally shot by three bullets on February 7, 2021.
According to our information, the young man who accompanied the teenager was talking with other young people when a car with two individuals on board passed near the group standing near the vehicle and opened fire in its direction. One of the youths standing near the vehicle was injured, but projectiles hit the teenage girl who was sitting in the car in the head and died instantly.
Immediately after this crime, which shocked the public, the SPVM’s major crime investigators launched a major investigation during which they spared no expense. This investigation is still ongoing, by the way.
This arrest does not mean that the police investigation is over. We know that the suspect apprehended was not alone on the day of the tragedy.
Commander Salvatore Serrao at a press conference, Monday afternoon
Touaibi’s involvement in the tragedy was not specified, so as not to harm the investigation. “I can tell you that he participated actively,” he said. According to sources, Touaibi would have driven the vehicle used during the murder. This vehicle, in which we would have tried to erase traces of the crime, would have been found by the investigators.
A suspect known to police
Salim Touaibi was already detained for another crime and was apprehended at the Rivière-des-Prairies detention facility. A few days ago, he pleaded guilty to counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm and breach of order in another case. His sentence is to be handed down later. In the same case, he was also freed from charges of forcible confinement, theft and use of a firearm.
In 2020, Salim Touaibi received a 24-month sentence for another weapon possession case, but subtracting the time spent in pre-trial detention left him with five months to serve.
Touaibi also has a history of drug trafficking dating back to 2017 for which he was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
Conflict between two groups
According to our information, an argument between two groups, which occurred following a theft committed outside Quebec, and a conflict between two families over a parking issue were the cause of the crime. “I can confirm that the young Meriem had nothing to do with the conflict,” said commander Salvatore Serrao.
After the murder, relatives of the victim said the suspects were known in the area.
A year after the tragedy, last February, relatives and friends of Meriem Boundaoui’s family commemorated her death by saying they hoped that justice would be done.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, PRESS ARCHIVES
Meriem Boundaoui’s family held a rally on February 7 to commemorate the first anniversary of her death.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, PRESS ARCHIVES
Meriem Boundaoui’s family held a rally on February 7 to commemorate the first anniversary of her death.
The police force invites anyone with information about this file to contact the SPVM directly or anonymously and confidentially with Info-Crime Montreal at 514 393-1133 or online.
With Alice Girard-Bossé, The Press
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.