Many Anjou residents are worried, and some are even considering relocating following a shooting that claimed the life of a 20-year-old rapper and injured a 17-year-old on Thursday in a seemingly quiet neighborhood.
Taki Eddine, who has a doctorate in medicine, remains just across from where this shooting took place Thursday evening, around 7:15 p.m., in Place Cointerel, a cul-de-sac overlooking the boulevard des Roseraies, in a residential area. This is where Hani Ouahdi, a 20-year-old described as a rapper on social media, was shot in the upper body in his vehicle. Mr. Eddine, met in front of his home on Friday, was one of the first to try to help him on the evening of the tragedy, to no avail.
“They called me to come down quickly. When I got off I tried to assess the victim to see [si elle était encore en vie], but it was too late, ”says the young father, who has lived for eight years in this neighborhood in the northeast of Montreal, which he describes as quiet.
“I’ve been here for three years and in my opinion, it’s a safe neighborhood,” also opines Ariane Racine, for whom this shooting, which took place a few meters from her home, had the effect of a “Shock”. She is particularly concerned that this event took place early in the evening, and not in the middle of the night.
” It’s worrying. I could have been outside […] It’s scary, “drops the young woman, who intends to stop” taking walks outside in the dark “, at least for the next few days. Anyone, Thursday evening, could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, also evokes Jocelyne Despatis, another resident of the area met on Friday by The duty. “We could have walked around 7 pm, 7:15 pm,” she recalls.
In this context, some residents are actually considering moving to another neighborhood, in the hope of feeling safer there. “I don’t know if I will renew [mon bail] here. I live alone and I travel on foot, ”confides Manon, who preferred to keep her last name silent. It is moreover because she considered this neighborhood “quiet” that she decided to settle there, barely two months ago.
“I do not intend to stay here in this area because it worries me”, also launches another resident of Anjou, Aïcha, who is the mother of two children aged 9 and 12.
A 17-year-old was also injured by bullets Thursday evening a little further, on the boulevard des Galeries-d’Anjou. He is now working with investigators from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). However, no arrests were made in connection with this case on Friday.
Increased police presence
SPVM agents did not skimp on efforts Friday to try to advance the investigation into this fatal shooting, which was quickly taken over by the major crimes section of the police force. Several police officers went door to door on Friday to try to obtain information on the suspects in this case as well as to request access to the images of the surveillance cameras of certain residents. The presence of police patrols was also increased in the area on Friday.
“I think that if there is a police presence, agents who circulate, that can already be reassuring”, estimates besides Ariane Racine, like other residents of the district
Beyond the increased presence of police officers, it is necessary to bet on an increase in the services offered to young people to prevent crime, in particular by relying on “education”, estimates Taki Eddine. “We must intervene sooner rather than later,” he insists.
The Minister of Public Security, Geneviève Guilbault, will also make an announcement Sunday, in Montreal, which will focus on “the prevention of violence among young people,” said the office of Mayor Valérie Plante on Friday.
The murder of Hani Ouahdi brings the number of homicides in Montreal to 32 since the start of the year.