In the shadow of Mount Saint-Bruno, our quiet suburban community of Longueuil finds itself once again confronting difficult questions about police use of force. The officer who fatally shot a teenager last week has been placed on sick leave, while investigators confirm the only weapon seized at the scene belonged to police.
As someone who’s covered Montreal-area news for over fifteen years, these incidents never become easier to report. Each represents a life cut short and a family forever altered.
Quebec’s police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), continues its investigation into the September 18 incident that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Mathieu Laroche. According to preliminary reports, Longueuil police responded to calls about a disturbance at an apartment complex on Curé-Poirier Boulevard around 10:30 p.m.
“The community deserves transparency,” says Marie-Claude Nichols, former MNA for Vaudreuil and public safety advocate. “When a young person dies during a police intervention, we need to understand exactly what happened and why.”
The BEI has confirmed that officers encountered the teenager in what they described as an “agitated state.” What happened next remains under investigation, but within minutes of police arrival, an officer discharged his service weapon, striking Laroche. Despite emergency medical intervention, the young man was pronounced dead at the hospital.
François Bonnardel, Quebec’s Public Security Minister, called the incident “tragic” while urging patience as investigators gather evidence. “We must allow the independent investigation to proceed without prejudice,” Bonnardel stated at a press conference in Quebec City yesterday.
For Laroche’s family, patience offers little comfort. “They’ve lost a son, a brother, a nephew,” says Pierre Brochet, former police chief and criminal justice consultant. “No investigation will bring him back, but they deserve to know exactly what happened that night.”
The BEI has assigned eight investigators to the case, interviewing witnesses and analyzing physical evidence. Their preliminary finding that no weapon other than the officer’s service pistol was recovered has raised concerns among community advocates.
Fo Niemi, executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations, points to a troubling pattern. “This is the third fatal police shooting in the Montreal area this year,” Niemi explains. “We continue to see these incidents disproportionately affect young people and those in crisis.”
Mental health experts question whether different intervention approaches might have prevented the tragedy. Dr. Cécile Rousseau of McGill University’s Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry suggests police need more specialized training.
“When responding to someone in psychological distress, traditional police tactics can sometimes escalate rather than de-escalate the situation,” Rousseau notes. “Many departments are exploring crisis intervention teams that pair officers with mental health professionals.”
Longueuil Police Service spokesperson Marie-Pier Lorrain confirmed the officer involved has seven years of service and has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure following critical incidents. The officer is also receiving psychological support.
“These incidents affect everyone involved,” Lorrain said. “Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased, the responding officers, and the witnesses who experienced this traumatic event.”
Meanwhile, a small memorial of candles and flowers has appeared outside the apartment building where the shooting occurred. Notes in both French and English express community grief and calls for justice.
As a journalist who’s lived through the aftermath of similar incidents in Montréal-Nord and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, I’ve watched how these tragedies ripple through communities. They challenge our collective sense of security and faith in institutions meant to protect us.
The BEI expects its preliminary investigation to be completed within 30 days, though the full report may take longer. Their findings will then be submitted to Quebec’s Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, who will determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
For now, Longueuil residents await answers while a family mourns a life cut tragically short. As this story develops, I’ll continue to provide updates with the care and sensitivity it deserves.
While we search for explanations, perhaps we might also reflect on how we support both troubled youth and those tasked with responding to crisis situations in our community. The answers may not be simple, but the questions are essential.
