Nackeal Hickey, an alleged street gang member involved in the violent shooting in Montreal’s west end in early August, will remain behind bars.
The 26-year-old man waived his bail hearing after returning to court Thursday morning. He faces charges including attempted murder and possession of a firearm.
He is allegedly involved in the shooting that occurred on August 4 in Dollard-des-Ormeaux. The event allegedly led to an exchange of gunfire between police officers and the suspect, injuring two members of the same family in a residential area.
Nackeal Hickey, 26, had been in the area in connection with a gunfight and allegedly fired a shot at a man. He then allegedly tried to flee from authorities by attempting to steal the vehicle of a family returning from vacation.
According to Radio-Canada, Houssam Abadallah, a father, intervened to protect his children. He was then shot and seriously injured. His son was also treated for a gunshot wound.
The suspect reportedly came running, a gun in his hand, and shouted at them, “Give me your keys!”, according to Radio-Canada. The family then fled, but found themselves in the middle of a shootout. Chased by police officers, the suspect allegedly took refuge in their car and exchanged about forty shots with the police, according to several media outlets.
When his 18-year-old son, Abdel-Rahman Abdallah, was hit by a first bullet, Houssam Abdallah put himself in the line of fire to protect his children, his daughter, Jana Abdallah, told Radio-Canada.
“Without him, I might not be alive,” she told reporters from the state-owned company. She escaped unharmed, but blamed the emergency services for taking nearly an hour to arrive on the scene.
Abdel-Rahman Abdallah confirmed his words and explained to Radio-Canada that the bullet that hit him hit two centimeters from his spine. He has since been released from the hospital. “I owe him my life, he is my hero,” he told Radio-Canada journalists about his father, a 52-year-old man.
The suspect, Nackeal Hickey, who was also injured in the shooting, has a lengthy criminal record, including domestic violence, breaking and entering and making death threats. He was charged with attempted murder in 2016, but eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. According to our sources, he is considered a member of the Rollin’ 90s, a street gang operating in particular in the West Island.
According to our information, the use of a high-calibre weapon by police officers from a West Island neighbourhood station that also serves the Montreal airport could explain why so many shots were fired during the intervention.
Due to the circumstances of the exchange of gunfire between the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) and the suspect, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) took charge of the case. Seven BEI investigators are currently investigating the event.
With Chloé Bourquin, The Press