Montreal police are investigating after a body was discovered near the shore of the Rivière des Prairies on Thursday morning, May 7, 2026 [1].
The discovery has prompted a forensic investigation to determine the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the death. Because the body was found in a residential area of the West Island, authorities are working to establish whether the incident is linked to previous missing persons reports.
The body was located on the banks of the river in the West Island region [1]. Reports on the specific location vary, with some sources placing the discovery behind a house in the Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough [3], and others citing the L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève borough [3].
Montreal police said they are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of death [1]. While the identity of the person was not confirmed immediately following the discovery on Thursday [4], subsequent reports indicate the body may be that of Hassoun Choui, 18 [4]. Choui had reportedly gone missing after falling through river ice in March [4].
Police have not yet released a formal cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities process the scene and await further forensic results to confirm the identity and timeline of the events [1], [5].
“Montreal police are investigating after a body was discovered near the shore of the Rivière des Prairies.”
The discovery of a decomposing body weeks after a reported accident suggests that seasonal river conditions, such as ice and strong currents, may have trapped the remains until the spring thaw. The discrepancy in location reports highlights the difficulty of pinpointing exact coordinates along the expansive riverbanks of the West Island.
