A horrifying attack in Montreal has left one police officer and a bystander dead after a gunman opened fire in a heavily Jewish neighborhood.

Authorities are calling the ambush one of the city’s most shocking acts of violence in decades, rattling residents and renewing questions about public safety and policing in urban centers.

The violence erupted in the Côte des Neiges neighborhood, a diverse section of Montreal that includes a large Jewish community and several prominent Jewish institutions.

Witnesses said the shooter appeared out of nowhere, armed with what looked like a semi-automatic rifle, and began firing before officers could react.

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Local police quickly issued a shelter in place order around 12:30 in the afternoon after the suspect was spotted near a grocery store.

Videos from witnesses captured chaotic moments as officers exchanged gunfire with the rifle-wielding attacker dressed in camouflage.

A mountain of gunfire followed.

Some witnesses said they heard as many as 30 rounds erupting through the busy street.

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In the footage, one officer could be seen collapsing to the pavement, apparently struck by the attacker’s bullets, as panicked bystanders scrambled for cover.

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“It’s a tragedy. It’s a nightmare,” said Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher, his voice heavy as he briefed reporters after the shooting.

The department later confirmed that one of the two responding officers had been killed in the attack, while a second officer was injured but is expected to recover.

“It is with immense sadness that we confirm the death of one of our police officers in the line of duty,” the police department said in an official statement.

They did not immediately release the officer’s name pending notification of family members.

The female officer who was wounded is now in stable condition, according to Chief Dagher.

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He also made clear that earlier rumors about a possible second suspect were false.

The gunman acted alone and was fatally shot by police during the confrontation.

The tragic loss marks the first time in 24 years that a Montreal officer has died in the line of duty.

The last instance occurred in 2002 when Officer Benoit L’Ecuyer was killed during a traffic stop.

The new attack has reopened painful memories for the city’s law enforcement community and added to growing concern over rising violent incidents in Canada’s once relatively calm urban hubs.

The neighborhood where the ambush occurred is home to numerous kosher establishments, Chabad centers, Jewish schools, and other community institutions.

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The murderer in Montreal has been named: Seth Hatfield, from Alberta. He murdered a policeman in a shooting spree in a Jewish neighbourhood in Montreal. Soon afterwards, government journalists at the… pic.twitter.com/wux4Kl2Q9D — Ezra Levant (@ezralevant) June 23, 2026

For those on the ground, the day was chaos. “We heard gunshots and people were screaming,” said one witness identified only as Samuel.

“It looked like something you would see in a movie, not in our quiet neighborhood.”

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Residents described sirens blaring and heavily armed tactical units moving through the area as police cleared nearby streets.

Authorities asked anyone in the vicinity to remain inside their homes until the shooter was confirmed dead.

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette condemned the attack, calling it “a heinous act that has no place in our society.”

She praised the fallen officer as a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others.

“Such acts have no place here,” she said, as provincial and national leaders offered their condolences.

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Across Canada, many law enforcement leaders say they are seeing a disturbing trend of increased aggression toward police officers.

While the country prides itself on lower crime rates than the United States, recent years have seen more brazen acts of violence, often caught on camera and shared widely online.

Montreal residents gathered near the scene later in the day to lay flowers and pay respect to the slain officer.

Many expressed frustration that such violence could erupt in broad daylight in an area known for its tight-knit community and low crime record.

Authorities have not yet released any details about the shooter’s identity, background, or possible motives.

Investigators are combing through evidence and surveillance footage to piece together the timeline of events leading up to the deadly encounter.

The police department pledged transparency as the investigation proceeds.

For now, Montreal is in mourning, struggling to understand how a quiet weekday afternoon turned into a deadly shootout that will not soon be forgotten.

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