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The CBC News coverage titled "Like a second father: Montreal man mourns shooting victim Michel Mizrahi" details the grief expressed by members of the Beth Chabad congregation in Côte-St-Luc after the
The CBC News coverage titled "Like a second father: Montreal man mourns shooting victim Michel Mizrahi" details the grief expressed by members of the Beth Chabad congregation in Côte-St-Luc after the June 22 shooting outside Aylo headquarters near Trans-Island Avenue and De Courtrai Avenue. The report focuses on the death of 68-year-old Michel Mizrahi, an Israeli citizen and longtime community member, while placing the incident within the broader context of the violence that unfolded close to Décarie Boulevard and Namur metro station. Authorities confirmed three fatalities occurred that day, including a Montreal police officer and the suspect.
Montreal Côte-des-Neiges Shooting: Three Dead, Including Police Officer, in Targeted Attack Near Pornhub Headquarters
Montreal, Quebec – This week — A deadly shooting in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges district has left a police officer, a civilian and the suspect dead, marking the first time a Montreal police officer has been killed in the line of duty in more than two decades and the third Canadian officer killed in less than two weeks.
Details of the June 22 Shooting
On June 22, 2026, gunfire erupted outside the headquarters of Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood. The location sits near the intersection of Trans-Island Avenue and De Courtrai Avenue, a short distance from Décarie Boulevard and the Namur metro station. Montreal police responded to reports of an active shooter and engaged a heavily armed suspect, resulting in his death at the scene.
Three individuals died during the incident: Constable Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34; civilian Michel Mizrahi, 68; and suspect Seth Scott Hatfield, 25. A second Montreal police officer, a woman, sustained gunshot wounds and remains in stable condition at a local hospital. One additional civilian received minor injuries and was treated at the scene before transport.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as police worked to contain the situation, with the operation lasting several hours. Witnesses described hearing multiple rounds of gunfire in what had been a typical Monday morning in the mixed residential and commercial district.
Profile of the Victims
Constable Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, aged 34, served as a five-year veteran with the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal after joining the force in 2021. He was the first Montreal police officer killed in the line of duty in more than 20 years. Colleagues described his dedication to community policing in the Côte-des-Neiges area, and the SPVM released a statement noting that his "sense of duty, dedication and professionalism will forever be remembered."
Michel Moshe Mizrahi, 68, an Israeli citizen and resident of Côte-St-Luc, was a member of Beth Chabad for more than 30 years. Rabbi Mendel Raskin, who confirmed Mizrahi's identity to media outlets, said he had been Mizrahi's rabbi for over three decades. Community members described Mizrahi as a beloved grandfather and a familiar presence in the neighbourhood. In the CBC News report, one friend mourned him as "like a second father."
Background on the Suspect
Seth Scott Hatfield, 25, travelled from Lethbridge, Alberta, to Montreal in the days preceding the attack. Authorities recovered a 104-page manifesto from his possession that contained incel ideology and explicit references to targeting pornography companies, including Aylo, which operates from the Côte-des-Neiges location. Hatfield was enrolled as a philosophy student prior to the incident, according to reports.
Quebec's public security minister stated that the attack would not be classified as an act of terrorism under Canadian law. Investigators confirmed that the manifesto focused on Aylo rather than the surrounding Jewish community in Côte-des-Neiges, concluding that the incident was not motivated by antisemitism despite the neighbourhood's demographics. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs confirmed Mizrahi's Jewish identity but noted the target was the pornography company, not the community.
Ongoing Investigations
Quebec's Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes has taken charge of the review into the police use of force that ended the suspect's life. Montreal police continue to lead the investigation into the broader circumstances of the shooting itself. Both agencies are examining the 104-page manifesto for additional context on planning and intent.
The dual-track approach follows standard protocol when an officer-involved shooting occurs in Quebec. The BEI examination will determine whether the responding officers followed established procedures during the confrontation. Separately, the coroner's office will conduct autopsies on all three deceased individuals to establish the official causes of death.
Political and Community Reactions
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada called for stricter federal and provincial gun control measures in response to the June 22 events. Her statement highlighted the need for coordinated action between Ottawa and Quebec City on firearm access, particularly given that this incident marked the third Canadian police officer killed in the line of duty in less than two weeks. Earlier in June, officers in Ontario and British Columbia were also killed while responding to calls.
Residents of Côte-des-Neiges expressed shock at the violence in their community. Local organizations began mobilizing support services for witnesses and first responders affected by the deaths. A vigil was planned by community members to honour both Constable Benredouane and Michel Mizrahi, with organisers emphasizing the need for unity in the wake of the tragedy.
Implications for Canadian Public Safety
The incident raises pressing questions about how incel ideology, as expressed in Hatfield's manifesto, intersects with mental health challenges and radicalization pathways across Canada. Federal authorities have previously tracked similar online communities, yet provincial mental health services in Alberta and Quebec remain uneven in their capacity to intervene before individuals travel long distances to commit acts of violence.
First responders across the country face renewed scrutiny of their training protocols following the loss of Constable Benredouane. The SPVM's five-year veteran represented a generation of officers hired in recent years, and his death underscores the physical risks borne by municipal police forces. Some critics argue these forces operate with limited federal support for specialized equipment and mental health resources.
What Happens Next
The BEI investigation is expected to take several months to complete, with a report made public upon conclusion. Montreal police have indicated they will review their active-shooter response protocols in light of the incident. Parliament may face renewed pressure to address the gap in Canada's approach to ideologically motivated violent extremism that falls outside the Criminal Code's terrorism provisions.
Mayor Ferrada's call for stricter gun control may reignite debate between the federal Liberal government and provinces that have resisted tighter firearm regulations. The targeting of a corporate headquarters also raises questions about security assessments for businesses in urban residential zones across Canada, particularly those involved in the adult entertainment industry.
For the families of Constable Benredouane and Michel Mizrahi, the aftermath of this tragedy will be felt for years to come. For the community of Côte-des-Neiges, the sound of gunfire on a Monday morning will not soon fade. And for Canadians watching from across the country, the question of how to prevent the next such attack remains unanswered.
By Alex Thompson, Staff Writer
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