Montreal is emerging from a recurring “nightmare” — the kind where indiscriminate gun violence traumatizes the city.

One police officer died and another was wounded Monday; a civilian was killed; and another bystander was injured after a lone gunman opened fire from a hotel overlooking the Décarie Expressway.

The suspect was also “neutralized” on this day of bloodshed, fear and confusion.

A 911 call brought Montreal police swarming to one of the city’s densest, busiest and most diverse neighbourhoods around noon on Monday. And for several hours, chaos gripped Côte-des-Neiges.

Officers fanned out, guns drawn, searching for additional suspects or casualties. They cordoned off a security perimeter and closed one of Montreal’s most clogged arteries along with nearby métro stations.

All the while, disturbing videos filmed by witnesses circulated on social media and rumours about possible motives swirled.

When the operation ended shortly after 3 p.m., Montrealers found out that the city had lost its first police officer in 24 years in the line of duty, according to Chief Fady Dagher. Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane was saluted for his “sense of duty, dedication and professionalism.” 

The dead civilian was identified as Michael Mizrahi, a local member of the Chabad Jewish community.

Now we’re left asking why? Was this a targeted attack? Was it terrorism? If so, who was the gunman aiming for? Police? The Jewish community that is a fixture in Côte-des-Neiges? Innocent Montrealers of any background? Or was this random violence by a........

© Montreal Gazette