Investigation into Teen’s Death Concluded
Quebec’s police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), has completed its investigation into the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Nooran Rezayi by a Longueuil police officer. The BEI delivered its final report to the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP), Quebec’s public prosecution service, which will determine whether to press charges.
Mayor Pushes for Police Force Review
Longueuil Mayor Catherine Fournier urges Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière to launch an immediate investigation into the Longueuil Police Service (SPAL) and its chief, Patrick Bélanger. This follows emails revealing concerns from BEI director Brigitte Bishop about post-shooting conduct, including improper witness interviews and an independent police probe.
Bishop noted that Bélanger provided inaccurate details to the BEI regarding delays in notification, claiming additional 911 calls required scene securing—calls later invalidated.
“Now that the BEI investigation is officially closed,” Fournier stated, “I invite Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière to immediately launch the investigation into the Longueuil Police Service (SPAL) that I requested on December 11.”
Details of the September Shooting
Officers responded to a 911 call reporting masked, armed individuals. Rezayi, unarmed and walking with youths, was shot within seconds of an officer’s arrival, sparking community outrage and a lawsuit from his family against the police and City of Longueuil.
Fournier first requested the ministerial probe in December amid these revelations.
Family Awaits Prosecution Decision
Virginie Dufresne-Lemire, lawyer for the Rezayi family, acknowledged the report’s transfer. “For the family, many questions remain about the sequence of events and the motive given to justify the fatal shooting, as well as about the subsequent investigations,” she said. “They will await the decision of the DPCP and access to the full investigation.”
The SPAL declined comment, and Lafrenière’s office has not responded.
