Quebec provincial police reported a burnt car discovered in Montreal’s east end early Thursday morning, believed to be connected to a bold daytime shooting at a Starbucks in Laval, Que. The incident resulted in the death of a prominent organized crime figure and injuries to two others. The Montreal police found the car ablaze around 3 a.m. in Rivière-des-Prairies—Pointe-aux-Trembles borough, near Clément-Ader and Joliot Curie avenues intersection. According to Radio-Canada, surveillance footage revealed two suspects arriving moments before the shooting and fleeing in a grey sedan, but it is uncertain if the burnt car in Montreal is the same as seen in the footage.
A command post was established near the shooting location, with Laval police responding to a 911 call around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the Starbucks within a crowded strip mall. The deceased individual was identified as Charalambos Theologou, also known as Bobby the Greek, with the injured victims being associates of his gang, the Chomedey Greeks. Laval police and the Sûreté du Québec intensified their search for potential suspects, setting up a command post near 100th Avenue and Highway 440 service road. Pierre Brochet, Laval’s police chief, labeled the shooting as linked to organized crime, emphasizing the unacceptable nature of such events. The joint investigation with SQ was progressing well, with specialized teams focusing on strategic areas.
Social workers were anticipated to offer psychological support to mall staff following the shooting. Brochet highlighted the evolving disregard for human life within organized crime culture, describing it as excessive. Christopher Skeete, the minister overseeing the Laval region, expressed concern over street gangs’ actions and vowed to closely monitor the situation. The minister denounced the territorial disputes and frequent conflicts among gangs in residential areas.