2 men dead after brazen mid-day shootings in Montreal

Two men have died after they were shot in broad daylight Tuesday in what Montreal police say are the 20th and 21st homicides of the year.

The first man was shot at 12:55 p.m. in the parking lot outside the Rockland shopping centre in the Town of Mount Royal, according to police.

The 44-year-old victim was taken to hospital in critical condition. His death was confirmed in the evening.

Investigators are meeting with witnesses who were at the scene and will also view video surveillance footage. No arrests have been made, according to police.

Meanwhile, a second shooting in Montreal was reported by police later in the afternoon.

A 50-year-old man was shot at 1:30 p.m. while he was in a restaurant on St-Denis Street near de Maisonneuve Boulevard. He was taken to hospital with injuries to his upper body.

His death was confirmed at the hospital.

Earlier in the day, police said it was too early to know if the two shootings are related but an investigation is underway.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said the police department is working hard to determine what happened and to reassure citizens in those areas.

“All the necessary resources are put in place to shed light on these crimes,” she wrote on social media.

— with files from the Canadian Press