Gunfire rang out on a usually-quiet strip of Iberville north of Villeray, claiming the life of a young father named Alexandre Tremblay Monday at 6:15 p.m.The 22-year-old was felled by an unspecified number of projectiles in an attack that appears to have inspired four attempted murders in the hours following.
Those attacks include a pair of brazen daylight shootings the next afternoon, as an 18-year-old was hit by gunfire at 19th and Rosemont on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and then a 22-year-old was shot at 13th and Jean-Rivard one hour later.
Neither was seriously injured.
Tremblay was a said to be a member of the Robert Housing gang, a blue gang faction named after a housing project near Robert and Pie IX.
The attackers were likely from another blue gang group seeking revenge for an earlier attempted murder, according to police sources quoted by La Presse.
The fear is that an all-out street gang war might erupt, causing more lives to be lost.The situation has lead some to suggest that the November arrest of Gregory Woolley might have destabilized the street gang ecosphere.
Woolley, is said to have close ties with both bikers and street gangs.
Tributes pour in to young father
Media reports Monday suggested that Tremblay was "known to police."
Tremblay, as evidenced by an outpouring of tributes on his Facebook page, was also a young man well-appreciated by many."Your death leaves a void that nobody can fill. We grew up together. I've known you since I was five," wrote one.
"Rip. You defended me in situations even when you didn't have to!! Love u xox"
"Rest in Peace we will miss like crazy. May god have a place for you in heaven and gives us the strength to deal with losing a friend and brother."
"Today we lost an angel. I lost a part of me when I lost you."
One person directed her message to the killers.
"Danmm did you think of his child, his mother, his family and the rest of the people who loved him? Did you ever think about it? I guess not. Who are you to decide who should live or die?"