[PHOTOS] Murder in Charlesbourg: an ex-biker killed by gunfire

Organized crime in the Quebec region has just suffered “a big loss,” as a still very influential ex-biker died after being riddled with bullets in the Charlesbourg area on Monday morning.

The man in question is Michel “Doune” Guérin, the former leader of the defunct motorcycle club Les Mercenaires, a club associated with the Hells Angels. The attack occurred outside a home on Avenue des Orioles.

“Our personnel were requested for assistance around 6:30 a.m. for a man who was seriously injured. We quickly noticed that the event was of a criminal nature,” explains Pierre-Olivier Lévesque, spokesperson for the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ).

According to our sources, the 57-year-old victim suffered several gunshot wounds to the chest. Rushed to hospital, he succumbed to his injuries in the hours that followed. The SPVQ confirmed our information later, in the afternoon.

The police force’s forensic identification service, as well as a dog handler, came to shed light on this matter. A mobile command post has also been deployed to collect information from potential witnesses, while no suspects have yet been arrested.

This is the 7th murder to occur in Quebec City since the start of the year.

“Three sharp blows”

In the neighborhood, several people were aware that shady business was going on at Michel Guérin’s home due to the numerous daily comings and goings.

A lady met by The newspaper also claims to have had the fear of his life when he saw a man flee after the crime.

“When I saw him run and jump over the fence, I went and hid behind the block. We knew that these people had a link with the Hells,” she explains, refusing to give her identity for fear of reprisals.

Another neighbor was awakened by “three sharp knocks” shortly before the police arrived in the street.

“I thought it was my neighbor who was hitting with the hammer. It makes me nervous to know that someone was killed right next door, I can no longer leave my daughters alone at home,” sighs Danielle Martineau.

An influential person

According to former SPVQ investigator Roger Ferland, a major conflict has been underway for about a year and a half between street gangs and bikers in Quebec.

Several companies in which Michel Guérin was involved have also been targeted by “warnings” in recent weeks. Cars were riddled with bullets and buildings were set on fire. This is particularly the case of the Armoires PMM factory, where the man worked, which was the victim of an arson almost two weeks ago.

“It’s a big loss for the Quebec region in the criminalized environment. He was a very important person who was used to launder the money of bikers at the time,” says Mr. Ferland.

Michel Guérin was notably imprisoned in the United States in connection with cocaine trafficking. He was also arrested in the wake of the Despote project, in 2005, in Quebec.

At large since 2019, he notably sued the City of Quebec in 2022 after being refused financial assistance during the pandemic for Univers Gym Fitness in Charlesbourg, of which he is the owner.

Surprise at the gym

Guérin’s death surprised employees of the Univers Gym Fitness training center, located at Galeries Charlesbourg, which he owned. The center was closed due to a power outage which affected several businesses in Galeries Charlesbourg.

One of them mentioned that he hadn’t noticed anything worrying in the last few weeks.

“We will remain open,” one of the employees briefly indicated.

An employee of a business located near the training center indicated, for her part, that she had learned that Mr. Guérin’s life had been threatened several times in recent times.

“There would have been three attempts to shoot him,” said the woman who preferred to remain anonymous.

A first in over 20 years

• Biker War: 1994 to 2002
• Would be the last time a biker was killed in Quebec
• Conflict between the Rock Machine and the Hells Angels
• Goal: Obtain control of drug trafficking in Quebec
• 165 deaths and 200 injured
• Ended in June 2022, after the Hells Angels eliminated all competition in Quebec

Some relatives of the Hells Angels killed in Quebec

• Bruno “Cowboy” Van Lerberghe (1996)
• Alain “Lulu” Leclerc (1997)
• Roland Ruel (1998)
• Alain Bouchard (1999)
• Yves Vermette (1999)
• Jean-Marc Savard (2000)

Source: Canadian Encyclopedia and JDQ archives.

– With the collaboration of Frédérique Giguère, Catherine Bouchard and TVA Nouvelles