Cries of distress, dozens of gunshots ringing out, three dead in a matter of minutes: the suspects in the triple murder in Rivière-des-Prairies were caught in the act thanks to a surveillance camera. Authorities had everything they needed to try to establish the route of the vehicles involved in this shooting that occurred in 2021, for which three men are on trial this week.
“Mackazoe, my brother!”
“Yo bro, Mackazoe!”
“Call 911!”
“I have one in my leg”
The video of the triple murder that occurred in Rivière-des-Prairies in 2021 was presented at the trial of Clifford Domerçant-Barosy, Stevenson Choute and Jonas Castor, accused of three homicides and two attempted murders. Jerry Willer Jean-Baptiste, nicknamed Mackazoe, Molière Dantes and Jefferson Syla, alias Soldier, were shot dead and two other men were injured by the bullets fired that day at dinner time.
Authorities had the video of the shooting in their possession from the first hours of the investigation, Detective Sergeant David Simard, lead investigator on the case, told the jury. “It’s going to quickly become our line of investigation. We got those images around one or two in the morning.”
Two suspicious vehicles can be seen slowly advancing toward 9301 Perras Boulevard. Several shooters open fire as a group of men celebrate a birthday in the front yard of the building in the residential neighborhood. Bullets fly, killing three men and wounding two others. Windows are shattered and cars parked in the neighborhood are hit.
Meticulous camera analysis
Detective Sergeant Simard presented to the jury the meticulous analysis of images from police surveillance cameras. These sequences taken in Laval and Montreal allowed the police to establish the hypothesis of a route taken by the two vehicles linked to the triple murder.
“We already know that we are looking for at least five people,” he explained.
A vehicle apparently left Laval before the tragedy to go to Rivière-des-Prairies, according to the video montages presented by the police officer. An individual dressed in black and wearing a surgical mask was also filmed in the building. His identity was not specified to the jury.
We are in the second week of this trial, which is expected to last two months. A key witness is due to address the jury: the driver and accomplice of the alleged killers, who has decided to turn his coat and collaborate with the authorities. He has already pleaded guilty in this case.
Me Christian Gauthier and Me Mélina Leblanc defend Stevenson Choute, Me Marc Labelle represents Clifford Domerçant-Barosy and Me Réginald Victorin and Mr.e Patrick Davis portrays Jonas Castor.