Man arrested in connection with homicide at Montreal dépanneur, police say

Montreal police say a man in his 30s has been arrested after a man in his 50s was killed inside a business in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough Thursday morning.

Police said the incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. inside a dépanneur on Berri Street near Saint-Joseph Boulevard. The victim was declared dead at the scene.

Investigators cordoned off the corner store, Fleur Bleue, located next to Laurier Metro station.

More than 12 hours later, the police perimeter remained extensive as the investigation continued. Police say the suspect is expected to appear in court Friday morning.

Authorities said the suspect fled the scene after the killing. A surveillance image obtained by Radio-Canada appears to show the suspect carrying a green Dollarama bag while waiting for a train at Beaudry station.

Police officers scoured the Metro system, searching trains and stations throughout the morning. Police say they received calls from citizens reporting the suspect's presence at multiple scenes.

Shortly before noon, they said they had arrested the suspect at Complexe Desjardins.

As of 8 p.m., police said Papineau station was reopened after a full-day closure.

Maxime Durocher witnessed the arrest. He said a large group of police officers swarmed the suspect.

“There was 20 to 30 cops that were around here,” he said. “There was too many cops for him to even move.”

After the arrest, the suspect’s green Dollarama bag sat on a table inside the atrium at the shopping mall. It appears to be stained with blood. Bloodstains also marked a table in the atrium and a blood-soaked piece of gauze was on a nearby bench. 

At Laurier station, people who said they knew the victim, who has yet to be officially identified, described him as a kind person. He worked in the dépanneur near the Metro station and was known to people in the area. 

“I’m emotional,” said Fadil Maliki, who runs a shop inside Laurier station and said he knew the victim. “He was a good person.”

Montreal police said the man's death marks the fifth homicide on their territory since the start of the year. Police say the investigation is ongoing.