Montreal police arrested two men and remain on the lookout for two others Friday after an overnight shooting in the city’s east end.
A large security perimeter was in place after a call came in reporting gunshots shortly before midnight in the Rivière-des-Prairies neighbourhood. The area between Métropolitain Boulevard, Marien Avenue, Henri-Bourassa Boulevard and Broadway Street has since reopened to traffic.
“They are now sure the suspects are not here any more,” police spokesperson Manuel Couture told reporters in the afternoon, adding officers “searched everywhere.”
Dozens of officers — including the heavily armed tactical intervention squad — were deployed as part of the operation and ongoing investigation. Police officers will remain at the scene as they continue to gather evidence and a firearm was recovered from the scene, Couture said.
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Police say four suspects were inside a vehicle and were involved in a serious crash. Two men, aged 18 and 23, were arrested at the scene of the crash but Couture could not say if they were known to police.
The two other men fled on foot. Couture said they could be anywhere in Montreal.
The manhunt stems from an initial shooting overnight in a parking lot at the corner of 27th Avenue and Maurice-Duplessis Street in the Rivière-des-Prairies.
A 25-year-old woman was shot in the lower body, according to police. The victim suffered minor injuries and she is expected to recover.
After the shooting, police say the suspects fled in a vehicle before crashing about seven minutes away from where the shooting occurred.
Couture said police patrolling the area saw a vehicle speeding by and followed it. It appears the driver of the vehicle lost control, which led to the crash.
Quebec provincial police are also assisted in the operation. Their helicopter was overhead to help comb the area.
— with files from Global News’ Olivia O’Malley
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