Residents of the Ahuntsic-Cartierville area where two homicides occurred at close intervals on Tuesday said they were worried to see such a tragedy unfold a few steps from their home. The boxing world is in shock over the sudden death of boxer David Lemieux’s father.
Posted at 3:14 p.m.
“It’s worrying, because it’s a really quiet place usually with families and children. In addition, it happened just after we left, ”says Sylvain Simo, met in Saint-Benoît Park, in the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville.
It was near this park that an intervention worker from the mental health hospital Albert-Prévost Mohamed Salah Belhaj was found, around 10:45 p.m.. Wounded by a bullet, the man lost his life. at the scene soon after.
A few yards away, teenagers were playing soccer on Wednesday night, unaware of the drama that had unfolded just across the field. But the traffic was much lower than usual the day after these two tragedies, said several residents of the area.
“There must be a third of the people there as usual. I have a friend who called me [mardi] hearing that and he told me not to come,” testified Mohammed Akhpar, his baby in his arms. Despite reports that the victims were chosen at random, the Pakistani-born man suspects a hate crime.
PHOTO SARKA VANCUROVA, THE PRESS
Sylvain Simo, met at Saint-Benoît
Several cars from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) circulate around the park, a presence appreciated by residents. According to Sylvain Simo, the place could still be better lit in the evening, in order to improve the feeling of security for its users.
“I was out until 9 p.m. yesterday. I was getting ready to sleep when I heard the gunshots, but I didn’t even bother to get out. I didn’t want to see that, ”says a woman who lives a few steps from the scene of the first homicide, at the corners of boulevards Deguire and Jules-Poitras. “In 15 years, I have never seen any murder here. I think the neighborhood is still safe, this is an isolated event. »
Her neighbor is worried, however, that there was another homicide a few minutes from her home, an hour later.
It already shoots a lot, but if people start shooting multiple times in the same day…
A woman residing near boulevards Deguire and Jules-Poitras, scene of the first homicide
” In a state of shock ”
Samuel Décarie-Drolet has known David Lemieux for “twenty years”. He is the assistant of Marc Ramsay, the boxer’s trainer in the stable of Eye of the Tiger Management. He says he never had the opportunity to meet his father, André Fernand Lemieux.
“I know that they didn’t see each other very often,” he explains in a telephone interview with The Press. But they were still on good terms. David Lemieux “went to see his grandmother this morning,” says Décarie-Drolet.
PHOTO FROM DAVID LEMIEUX’S INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
André Fernand Lemieux, near boxer David Lemieux and his grandson
On his Instagram account, David Lemieux also confirmed the news of his father’s death. “RIP dad,” he wrote, posting a photo of his dad.
The whole family was in shock. There was nothing to suggest that.
Samuel Décarie-Drolet, assistant to coach Marc Ramsay
The boxing trainer was coming out of Marc Ramsay’s gym when he answered our call. During the day, he met various actors in this environment, including boxers Arslanbek Makhmudov, Christian Mbilli and Leïla Beaudoin. WBC world heavyweight champion Óscar Rivas was also there. Groupe protege Yvon Michel (GYM) has been a training partner with Lemieux “for a dozen years”, according to Décarie-Drolet.
“Everyone is in shock, saddened for the individuals affected, he laments. And by the fate of David’s father. »
Promoter Yvon Michel reacted to the news on Twitter.
“On behalf of the entire GYM team and on my own behalf, we offer you our most sincere condolences,” he wrote. To you and your whole family for the gratuitous, terrible, despicable and useless gesture that caused the death of your father! »
The political scene reacts
The administration of Valérie Plante was quick to react to these new violent events involving at least one firearm. “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the two victims. We understand the concerns of citizens following the deplorable and targeted events that occurred last night,” said the head of public security on the executive committee, Alain Vaillancourt.
In opposition, Councilor Abdelhaq Sari lamented Wednesday that “armed violence continues to rage in Montreal”. “Unfortunately, this issue is far in the priorities of the administration. We proposed several solutions to remedy this: summer security plan, restoration of the number of police officers, evaluation of the needs of social workers, in addition to improving the resources of the squads. Unfortunately, none of these solutions have been applied,” he complains.
The most revolting is that the administration refuses any proposal while it does not put any alternative in place.
Abdelhaq Sari, city councilor of the Ensemble Montréal party
Montreal has defended itself from not financially supporting the SPVM, recalling having increased its budget by 45 million, for a total of 724 million in 2022.