Thousands Gather in Montreal to Honor Fallen Officer Benredouane

Thousands of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics marched from police headquarters to the Bell Centre in Montreal on July 7, 2026, for a public memorial honoring Mohamed Lamine Benredouane. The 34-year-old constable was killed on June 22 during a shootout at a hotel in the Côte-des-Neiges district, marking the first line-of-duty death for the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal in 24 years.

The June 22 tragedy also resulted in the deaths of civilian Michel Mizrahi and the suspected gunman, Seth Scott Hatfield, while leaving another officer and a civilian wounded. The commemorative ceremony included a procession with a bagpipe band and officers on horseback, culminating in a military flyover by two CH-146 Griffon helicopters from the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher praised Benredouane's bravery, stating his quick actions prevented further casualties. Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette and Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada also honored the officer's sacrifice during the civic funeral. Quebec Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière described the original shooting as a tragedy of unprecedented violence, while the city gathered in a display of solidarity and mourning.