A Montreal police officer, a civilian, and the suspected gunman were killed Monday following a shooting in the city’s Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood, prompting a major law enforcement response and an ongoing investigation into the suspect’s motives.
Montreal police identified the fallen officer as Constable Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, who joined the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) in 2021.
C’est avec une profonde tristesse que nous confirmons le décès tragique de l’agent Benredouane dans l’exercice de ses fonctions en protégeant la population. Le drame est survenu aujourd’hui lors d’une intervention dans le secteur de CDN.
Détails ➡️ https://t.co/G972ZKywtG pic.twitter.com/dmyem9cDSd
— Police Montréal (@SPVM) June 23, 2026
The civilian victim was identified as Michael Moshe Mizrahi, a member of Montreal’s Jewish community. A second officer was seriously wounded but was later reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities said the shooting began shortly after 11:30 a.m. local time near the Hilton Hotel in a heavily Jewish area of Montreal that includes synagogues, schools, community centers, and kosher businesses. Police issued an emergency alert warning residents about an armed and dangerous suspect and instructed people in the area to shelter in place while officers searched for potential additional threats. The alert was later lifted.
The suspected gunman was identified by Quebec authorities as Seth Scott Hatfield, 25, of Lethbridge, Alberta. According to reporting by CBC/Radio-Canada, Hatfield was a student at the University of Lethbridge studying philosophy. The university confirmed his enrollment following the attack.
Investigators are examining a 104-page manifesto allegedly authored by Hatfield and distributed shortly before the shooting. According to CBC’s analysis, the document was created approximately two weeks before the attack and outlined a mix of anti-capitalist, anti-pornography, anti-law enforcement, and extremist views. Experts interviewed by CBC said the document also reflected themes commonly associated with the online “incel” movement, a misogynistic subculture centered on perceived involuntary celibacy.
CBC also reported that Hatfield maintained an online presence that included following conspiracy theorists, consuming extremist content, and participating in various online platforms. Investigators are reviewing those activities as part of the broader inquiry into the attack and whether the suspect had any connections to larger networks or extremist movements.
Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher said investigators have not identified any additional suspects and are continuing to examine the manifesto, the suspect’s background, and the sequence of events that led to the shooting. Quebec’s police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, has launched a parallel investigation, as is standard when a civilian dies during a police intervention.
Community organizations, elected officials, and law enforcement agencies have expressed condolences to the families of the victims as the investigation continues.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said, “My deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of the police officer who died in the line of duty in Côte-des-Neiges.”
“My thoughts are also with all those affected by this tragedy.”
The attack has drawn attention from counterterrorism and threat-assessment professionals because of the suspect’s apparent blend of ideological influences, including anti-government, anti-law enforcement, antisemitic, and misogynistic themes. Authorities have not yet announced any formal terrorism-related designation connected to the case.
