Montreal police have identified the alleged gunman behind Monday’s deadly shooting in the city’s Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood as 25-year-old Seth Hatfield of Lethbridge, Alberta.
Authorities say Hatfield was fatally shot by police after allegedly opening fire from a hotel room window, triggering a major emergency response that left one police officer and one civilian dead.
The Quebec coroner’s office confirmed the identities of the victims on Tuesday. The fallen officer was 34-year-old Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, a member of the Montreal Police Service since 2021 who grew up in the Côte-des-Neiges community. The civilian victim was identified as 64-year-old Michel Mizrahi, a local resident and father of three.
Speaking through tears at a news conference, Côte-des-Neiges Borough Mayor Stéphanie Valenzuela described Benredouane’s actions as “an act of heroism.” A second police officer was also injured during the incident.
The shooting began shortly after noon when police received reports of a firearm being pointed from a hotel window and shots being fired. Videos shared online appeared to show the suspect dressed in military-style clothing and carrying a long gun. Investigators believe he acted alone.
Police have not released a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Attention has focused on a 104-page document circulating online that has been linked to the suspect. The document reportedly contains misogynistic, anti-government and anti-capitalist rhetoric. Authorities have not authenticated the material, and police have not commented on whether it played a role in the attack.
The University of Lethbridge confirmed Hatfield was a student and said it is cooperating with investigators.
Mizrahi is believed to have been killed during the exchange of gunfire, though officials have not yet clarified the exact circumstances surrounding his death. Community members described him as a respected local businessman who sold suits and was active within Montreal’s Jewish community.
Because the attack occurred in a neighbourhood with a significant Jewish population, concerns about a possible antisemitic motive quickly emerged. However, Jewish community leaders have urged caution until investigators release more information.
In a public statement, the Jewish Community Council of Montreal emphasized that speculation should be avoided until police determine the motive and intended target of the attack.
Experts studying extremism have also examined the online document allegedly linked to the suspect. Stephanie Carvin, a professor at Carleton University who reviewed the text, described it as a blend of extremist ideologies centred largely on what she called “violent misogyny.”
The document reportedly criticizes pornography and various social institutions. Media reports have noted that the hotel room used by the suspect overlooked the offices of the Montreal-based company that owns Pornhub, though investigators have not established any connection.
According to reports, the RCMP circulated an alert to police agencies across Canada following the shooting, warning about material that allegedly encouraged violence against law enforcement officers.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada called for renewed discussions on gun control and the influence of online extremism. While declining to comment directly on the circulating document, she said
