Rise of gun violence: 6 rappers murdered in just over a year in Montreal

A sixth rapper was killed in just over a year, in Montreal, during a shooting that occurred Tuesday evening and where the singer was targeted by a violent burst of projectiles in front of the Bell Center.

• Read also: Shooting in the city center: the victim is a young rapper of 21 years

“The shooters are made completely arrogant. They don’t care because they are no longer afraid of getting caught by the police. For them, it’s done open barsays André Gélinas, retired detective sergeant from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).

Here he comments on the shooting that claimed the life of 21-year-old Adam Jean-Philippe, a rapper known as “Young A Stunnin,” on Tuesday night. It was around 8 p.m. that his car was riddled with bullets, near the intersection of rue Saint-Antoine and rue de la Montagne.

The young man died in his Honda Civic. Two other passengers in the vehicle were also injured. The SPVM confirmed yesterday that they were now “out of danger”.

Target singers?

According to a compilation made by the Log“Young A Stunnin” is the sixth rapper murdered by gunshot or stab in Montreal since July 2021. Three other rappers in Quebec were also victims of attempted murder during the same period.

Note that nothing proves for the moment that there is a link between these crimes.

“The places of clashes between criminal groups are the streets, prisons and social networks. In this virtual world, I will include gangster rap members who will often show the money, their gang color and their weapons that are linked to their group,” explains André Gélinas.

His hypothesis? Rappers provoke on social networks the ire of certain gangs who end up retaliating sometimes with shootings in the real world. According to the experts consulted, only a fringe of rappers stands with bad influences.

“If these are young people who were associated with delinquent networks, it is certain and certain that an attack like this risks generating responses”, notes for his part René-André Brisebois, professional coordinator at the Youth in Difficulty University Institute.

Beverley Jacques, co-founder of the Pozé Coalition, says the music industry is partly responsible for this phenomenon.

“The industry capitalizes on messages that you have to sell drugs to be rich or it glorifies violence with firearms,” ​​laments Mr. Jacques.

No history

The day after the crime, the neighbors of the Jean-Philippe family were stunned that the young artist died so quickly, he who had no criminal history according to our checks.

“They should find something to do with their lives, like go back to school, get a job, because it’s not worth it. [d’agir de la sorte]“, denounces Adolris Cupid, in the crack of his door.

Several acquaintances of the rapper preferred to keep their names silent by commenting on this drama, for fear of reprisals.

“It’s sad. It’s just sad. He was only a child, ”drops an acquaintance of the family, who was seen in the morning chatting with one of Adam Jean-Philippe’s brothers.

-With the collaboration of Michael Nguyen

Who are the six rappers killed in Montreal?

July 3, 2021 : , alias “SOSO BURGZ”, 21 years old, shot dead in his car

August 3, 2021 : , nicknamed “Mackazoe”, 29 years old, murdered during a shooting

August 8, 2021 : known as “Young Wolf”, 22, shot dead

October 18, 2021 : , 16, succumbed to his injuries after a stabbing

December 2, 2021 : , aka El DZairy, fatally shot while in a vehicle

September 20, 2022 : Adam Jean-Philippe, 21, a Montreal rapper shot dead in front of the Bell Center