Bang, bang bang bang! It was early Friday morning when residents of a small residential street in Vieux-Longueuil awoke to a start. Are those really shots? Yes, they understood when the police kicked them out. After more than 12 hours, many of them are still unable to return to their homes.
In Longueu on Friday morning, the entire police operation was called off on Rue Daniel. A daycare center on this small residential street between rue Leblanc Ouest and chemin du Coteau-Rouge called 911 around 6 a.m. to report a shooting.
“I heard four gunshots and I looked out my window and saw a man dressed in black, with a hood, running towards a parked vehicle,” says Sebastien, who met him at the scene earlier in the evening. “The car sped east and was followed at full speed by a white vehicle. »
Another man also fled on foot, Sébastien says, with his 4-year-old daughter in his own vehicle at the edge of a wide security perimeter established by the Longueuil agglomeration police department (SPAL).
“We’re lucky it wasn’t anything more dramatic,” says his wife, Sabrina.
Photo by Marco Campanosi, The Press
The security perimeter of Rue Daniel, in the morning
In fact, no one was injured in the shooting, said François Boucher, spokesman for SPAL. In the morning, the police arrested two men in their thirties.
Following their meeting with investigators, they may face charges depending on evidence found at the scene.
Missile casings were found at the scene. At the beginning of the evening the scene was still preserved and could be seen Pres. “She was trying to recover evidence, and because there could be other people involved,” Mr. Boucher explained.
Those who leave in pajamas
While investigators are busy in the field, residents have long begun to find out.
Photo by Josie Desmarais, The Press
Some of the evacuated residents were still unable to return to their homes by evening.
“It’s hard to live with: We don’t know when we’ll be back,” said Kauman, waiting outside with her four children, ages 2 to 17.
We met him in a small parking lot at the corner of rue Daniel and Chemin du Coteau-Rouge around 7:00 p.m. More than 12 hours had already passed since the emergency evacuation at 6:30 a.m. on Friday. Cowman was able to drive her children home from school and pick them up. His wife stayed at home.
Photo by Josie Desmarais, The Press
A Réseau de transport de Longueuil has become a bus shelter. The Red Cross was on the scene.
This parking lot has become a crowded waiting area. A Réseau de transport de Longueuil bus was mobilized with Red Cross workers to provide shelter. Other residents wait in their vehicles hoping for information.
Here and there small groups of neighbors hold meetings. A little further, children, idle, play on the asphalt, while the sun sets.
“I was alone with my two young children, aged 5 and 2, says a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous. The police woke me up. I didn’t bring anything because we had to leave. I’m still in my pyjamas,” he says, pointing to his pants. “And the dog is in the house!” »
Many people leave essential items — like their medications — behind, Sabrina also notes.
I went to buy water bottles and luckily the neighbors brought food. But I think things need to be put in place [pour ceux qui n’ont pas leurs médicaments].
Sabrina, a resident of the area
“It can happen anywhere”
The house where the shooting allegedly took place has raised suspicions in the neighborhood, several neighbors said. “Everyone saw the big luxury cars in front of this house,” says Sebastien. “Easily $350,000 worth of cars. »
“There are cars that say we’re dealing with people… but these are rash decisions,” Kooman believes.
Photo by Marco Campanosi, The Press
No one was injured in the gunfight, according to the Langueil Aggregate Police Department.
“These are big cars. And with that, I can pay off my mortgage! exclaimed another neighbor who lives nearby.
One thing is for sure, the event is rocking. “It’s scary for me because I came here with my family for peace,” lamented a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.
Sebastien is not worried because this is the first such event in the neighborhood. “But if it happens tomorrow morning [de nouveau]I’m not going to feel safe,” he says.
“You don’t expect something like that to happen,” another resident puts into perspective. But it can happen anywhere. Fell on our street. »
