Forensic analysis confirmed that the bullets which killed Michel Mizrahi during a June shooting were fired by the assailant, not a police officer [1], [2].
The findings resolve a period of intense public speculation and social-media accusations directed at the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). The clarification provides a factual conclusion to a violent incident that sparked debate over police conduct during active shooter scenarios.
The shooting occurred June 22, 2026, in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood of Montreal [3], [4]. During the late morning incident, an assailant opened fire on police officers. Michel Mizrahi, a passerby, was struck and died by the gunfire [1], [5].
Reports from the scene indicated that three people died in the incident, including the suspect [6]. One other person was seriously injured [6].
Following the event, some members of the public alleged that the police officer present at the scene had shot Mizrahi. However, Daniel Renaud said that analyses from the Laboratory of Forensic Science and Medicine confirm the passerby was killed by the assailant's bullets [7].
The SPVM leadership responded to the forensic results by addressing those who had criticized the officer. The Chief of the SPVM said, "I hope that the armchair managers will do a soul-searching today" [8].
The investigation utilized autopsies and ballistic evidence to trace the trajectory and origin of the fatal rounds [1], [2]. These results contradict the initial narratives that circulated online shortly after the June 22 violence [5], [8].
“The passerby was killed by the bullets of the assailant.”
This case highlights the tension between real-time social media narratives and the slower pace of forensic verification. By clearing the officer, the SPVM avoids a potential crisis of legitimacy regarding the use of force, while the incident underscores the danger civilians face during urban shootouts involving erratic assailants.
