Shots fired at office of man who owns Old Montreal buildings that were sites of fatal fires

A building in Old Montreal that was shot at overnight belongs to a man who also owns properties that were the sites of two fatal fires — the most recent last Friday.

Montreal police arrested two young men and a teenager in connection with Tuesday night's shooting. Their ages are 20, 19 and 17.

The building that was hit by bullets, 808 Berri St., is listed as the office for lawyer Émile Benamor. Benamor owns the building, according to property records.

Benamor also owns the building at the corner of Notre-Dame and Bonsecours streets where two people died in last Friday's fire, as well as the building near the corner of Place d'Youville and St-Nicolas Street, where seven people died in March 2023.

On Wednesday, a Radio-Canada reporter spotted Benamor near the scene of last week's fire, as he appeared to be surveying the damage. The reporter attempted to ask him questions about the fire as well as the shooting at his office.

Benamor did not respond.

On Monday, Quebec's chief coroner announced there would be a public inquiry into the Oct. 4 fire that killed a mother and her seven-year-old daughter. The inquiry could be combined with the one that was ordered for the 2023 fire that killed seven people.

A criminal investigation of the most recent fire is ongoing. The file for last year's incident has been transferred to the Crown prosecutor's office, which will decide if charges will be laid.

Suspects arrested near scene

According to police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant, a 911 call was placed around 11 p.m. on Tuesday about shots fired near the corner of Berri and St-Antoine streets. 

Brabant said police received information about a small white truck seen leaving the scene.

The spokesperson said officers intercepted the truck shortly after. It was parked not far from where the shots had been heard. The truck then drove off before being pulled over near Hôtel-de-Ville Avenue and Boisbriand Street.

Brabant said a gun was found inside the truck.