National News

Insp. Gino Iannone speaks to reporters outside the Longueuil, Que., police headquarters south of Montreal on Friday Sept. 26, 2025.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sidhartha Banerjee

Montreal-area police urge calm ahead of events in honour of slain teen Nooran Rezayi

By The Canadian Press

Published 11:11 PDT, Fri September 26, 2025

Last Updated: 11:27 PDT, Fri September 26, 2025

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Police on Montreal's South Shore say they have information that this weekend's events in honour of the teenager killed by an officer may be co-opted by people looking to commit violence.

"We hope that everything will proceed without unrest, threats, acts of violence or vandalism," Insp. Gino Iannone of the Longueuil police told a news conference on Friday, adding that any such behaviour will not be tolerated.

He did not elaborate on the information police have and didn't take questions from reporters.

Fifteen-year-old Nooran Rezayi was shot dead by police on Sunday after officers responded to a 911 call about a group of armed young people in a residential neighbourhood in Longueuil. Quebec's independent police watchdog says the only gun seized at the scene belonged to the officer who shot the teenager.

The police said they are co-operating with the investigation of the watchdog agency — Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes. The Montreal police are conducting a parallel criminal investigation into the shooting.

The Longueuil police announced this week the officer who shot the teenager is on an indefinite sick leave.

On Thursday, police said they arrested a 15-year-old boy for making online threats against officers in the aftermath of the fatal shooting. The teenager was released with conditions and on a promise to appear in court at a later date.

At least one officer has been granted special protection because of online threats made against him and his family, the Longueuil police force has said. As well, the force has said it increased general security measures for all its officers.

A march and vigil is planned for Saturday afternoon in the neighbourhood where Rezayi was killed, roughly 10 minutes from his family home.

A second event, planned for Sunday afternoon, is described by organizers as a march against police brutality and racial profiling. Marchers are to walk from Gérard-Fillion high school to Longueuil police headquarters just over one kilometre away.

"We refuse to remain silent in the face of the tragedy of Nooran Rezayi," said a post on the Facebook page for the Sunday event. "His death is a painful reminder of the abuse, systemic racism, and police brutality that continue to plague our communities."

The Facebook invite says demonstrators will march for the mandatory use of body cameras by all police forces in Quebec.

Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière, who represents the riding where the shooting occurred, reminded those intending to participate in the marches that "there's a line not to cross."

Longueuil police said they've been in touch with area schools to urge parents to talk to their kids about this weekend's events.

"(The police) invites all those who wish to march in the memory of Nooran Rezayi to do so peacefully for the safety of both residents and participants, many of whom may be minors," Iannone said.

– Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press