2 men dead after daytime shootings less than an hour apart in Montreal

Montreal police are investigating after two men were killed by gunfire in two different incidents less than an hour apart Tuesday afternoon.

The first, a 44-year-old man, died after ashooting in the parking lot of RocklandShopping Centre in the Town of Mont Royal, according to Montreal police spokesperson Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant.

The victim was Maxime Lenoir, and his links with organized crime were known to the police, Radio-Canada has learned.

Brabant said a 911 call came in around 12:55 p.m. about a man hit by gunfire at the mall.

Investigators are on site meeting with witnesses and are reviewing surveillance footage, he said.

Radio-Canada has learned the manwas shot in the upper body and transported to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Shooting at pizzeria

The second shooting took place inside a pizzeria on St-Denis Street, in Montreal's central Latin Quarter, about 40 minutes later.

The victim was Diego Fiorita, age 50, Radio-Canada has learned. He was shot at least once in the upper body and transported to hospital, Brabant said.

CPR manoeuvres were performed on the man in the ambulance on the way to hospital where he was later declared dead.

Police temporarily shut down St-Denis Street between de Maisonneuve Boulevard and Ontario Street to carry out an investigation.

Surveillance camera footage will be reviewed, Brabant said, but preliminary information indicates a suspect walked into the restaurant, shot the victim at least once and fled in an unknown direction.

Mayor reassures public

On Twitter Tuesday,Montreal Mayor Valrie Plantecalled attention to the two shootings and said the city's police service is "hard at work in the affected sectors to reassure citizens and conduct the investigation."

"All necessary resources are being put in place to shed light on these crimes," she said.

Public Security MinisterGenevive Guilbaultalso posted to Twitter, saying she spoke to Plante about the two shootings.

"We understand the concern of citizens. As always, our officers will be working day and night to catch the criminals involved," she said.