A young Montrealer who had found refuge with a good Samaritan finally shot him following arguments about the household, he admitted this Wednesday by pleading guilty.
“Tensions related to household chores and lack of respect [envers la victime] made the situation unbearable,” explained M.e Marie-Josée Thériault of the Crown, this Wednesday at the Montreal courthouse.
Looking casual and sleepy to the point that the judge had to make sure he was listening carefully, Lenny Kerry Laguerre did not really react while the prosecutor recounted his crime committed in September 2021 in the Saint-Léonard district.
At the time, the 20-year-old accused and his girlfriend were in a bad situation and were looking for accommodation. It was there that they met the victim, a 30-year-old beneficiary attendant who helped people in need by housing them.
No good roommates
Laguerre and his girlfriend, however, did not seem to be the best roommates since they quickly invited a minor runaway to move in there, while disrespecting the good Samaritan. And that’s without counting the problems related to household chores.
“The weeks pass and the relationship deteriorates,” it is stated in the summary of the facts.
Laguerre, his girlfriend and the runaway were finally kicked out, after the latter stole the computer of the person who was hosting them.
A meeting followed, supposedly for the young runaway to apologize, but instead a confrontation broke out.
“[Le jeune] armed with a knife pushes the victim onto the couch, explained Me Thériault who acted for Me Alexandre Gautier. At one point, Laguerre and the victim fight hand-to-hand.”
Shot in the shoulder
The altercation then moved outside and, at one point, the young man took out a firearm which he held towards the accused.
“The victim sees him point the weapon in his direction, she sees the accused pull the trigger and notices that the weapon jams,” indicates the summary of facts.
The good Samaritan then rushed towards Laguerre, but the latter finally managed to operate the weapon and shoot the victim in the shoulder. The latter, however, managed to disarm his assailant and flee to alert the police.
Laguerre was quickly caught and rather than going to trial, he finally pleaded guilty this Wednesday to aggravated assault, possession of a loaded firearm and also attempting to discharge a firearm.
He will return to court in the coming weeks for sentencing arguments, but everything indicates that both the Crown and the defense will present a joint suggestion.
“He has things to prepare before going home. [en détention]», explained Me Carlos Bolivar of the defense, to explain why the sentence was not proposed as of this Wednesday.