Montreal snow removal towing operation ends after gunshot fired

MONTREAL — Montreal police say an argument over towing during a snow-clearing operation escalated to the point where a gunshot was fired.

No one was injured by the bullet, which was allegedly fired by a 39-year-old man in the city’s east-end Pointe-aux-Trembles neighbourhood about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Const. Antony Dorélas says at least one shot was fired toward two victims, and one of them — a 19-year-old man — had to be treated at the scene for shock.

The organization that oversees parking in the city said in a statement that one of its employees had been the victim of an assault and condemned this “act of extreme violence against one of our employees.” It is offering the necessary support to the employee as well as his colleagues.

The suspect is believed to be the owner of the vehicle that was going to be towed so snowplows could clear the road. Investigators were meeting with the man on Wednesday.

Dorélas says the suspect could face charges that include armed assault and discharging a firearm. Police have also set up a security perimeter and are continuing to investigate the case.

Montreal had begun its first snow removal operation of the season just hours earlier in all of its boroughs, including the Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles. The city was moving quickly to prevent heavy rain that was forecast from accumulating in the streets as recent snowfall blocked sewers.

During the city’s operations, signs are erected prohibiting parking and cars that do not respect the signs are towed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024.

Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press