Anjou mayor calls for larger police presence after 20-year-old killed in shooting

Anjou's mayor is calling on the City of Montrealto increase police presence in his borough following a shooting Thursdaythat left a 20-year-old man dead and a teenager injured.

"I have some evenings here where Ihave no cops at all on the road, so [Mayor Valrie Plante] has to do something about it," said Luis Miranda, mayor of the borough in eastern Montreal.

Around 7:15 p.m., Montreal police were called to the intersection of desRoseraies Boulevard and de la Nantaise Avenue, near the Galeries d'Anjoushopping centre,after hearing reports of gunfire.

When officers arrived, they found a 20-year-old maninside a parked car on a nearby cul-de-sac. Police have since identified him asHani Ouahdi.

Ouahdi, who was not known to police,was unconscious and injured in the upper body. He was rushed to hospital, where he later died.

Officers also found a 17-year-old nearby with minor injuries to the upper body. He wastaken to hospital but has since been released. The teenager isknown to police and is co-operating with the investigation.

Miranda called the incident unfortunateandsaid more police patrols would likely help stop the violence. He's urging the cityto let him reinstate Anjou's own security services, which was disbanded a decade ago as part of a centralization of services.

"It's unfortunate. Things are happening more and more, I can't understand how[a] kid's life doesn'tseem to count, doesn't have a price," he said.

"I'm not asking the city to pay, I'll pay for them."

'People are scared'

Montreal police say the homicide squad is investigating, but the motive of Thursday's shootingis still unknown.

Carlos Rodrigues, who haslived in the neighbourhood for 45 years, saw the aftermath of the shooting firsthand. His son heard the gunshots, and then the pair went outside to see what was going on.

"What happened wasIsaw a man lying down already on the floor with somebody trying to reanimate the kid," he said.

WATCH| Resident describes finding shooting victim outside his home:

Anjou father and son discover latest shooting victim outside their home

3 years ago

Duration 1:18

After Carlos Rodrigues's son heard gunshots, they ventured outside to find a man lying on the ground. They tried to help, but when Rodrigues saw that the victims eyes were open and unmoving, he knew it was too late.

The man performing CPR asked Rodrigues' son to compress the wounds to stop the bleeding.

That's when Rodriguessays he saw the man's face, which was "white as a ghost already, and the eyeswide openbut weren't moving anymore."

Rodrigues says the neighbourhood, once generally quiet and peaceful, has changed in the past few years.

"We're scared, people are scared around here," he said, calling for more action from the city to combat the violence.

KarimAdi, who also lives in the neighbourhood, said he's worried that he or someone he loves could get caught in the crossfire.

"I'm scared," he said. "It could happen for anybody, a [stray] bullet."

Montreal police reassure public

The death marks the 32nd homicide on territory covered by the Montreal police service (SPVM) this year.

SPVM spokesperson Insp. David Shanesaid on Friday that officers from Station46 are currently participating in a door-to-door operation, first to reassure Montrealers, but also to encourage people to come forward with any information.

Citing the increase in shootings and attempted murders in the city, Shane said the police serviceunderstands "very well"that citizens are concerned.

Regardless, Montreal remains a safe city, he said.

"We have to look at what is happening in the big Canadian cities, the big U.S. cities, to realize that, all in all, Montreal is a safe city, and all the police and civilian personnel of the SPVM are committed and working tirelesslyto keep it safe," Shane said.