Sylvie and Robert Lacas pay their respects at the site of the fire where their granddaughter Charlie Lacroix was killed three years ago along with six others.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
The owner of the Old Montreal apartment building that burned down in March, 2023, killing seven and injuring several more, has been charged with seven counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Émile Benamor, 63, was arrested Wednesday and is set to appear by videolink in a Montreal court in the afternoon.
The 14-unit heritage property in the historic Place D’Youville housed several illegal Airbnbs and had been flagged for numerous fire safety violations leading up to the blaze. However, a Globe investigation also found that the city had placed a moratorium on inspecting building evacuation routes years earlier, in part owing to lack of staff training, which prevented a review of the building’s safety before the deadly fire.
Montreal building that burned in deadly fire had repeated safety violations, documents show
In September, 2023, he sued the city for more than $7-million, alleging the fire department had been insufficiently involved in protecting the building leading up to the fire and on the night of the blaze.
Montreal Police Chief Inspector David Shane holds a press conference about the case on Wednesday.Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press
Families of the victims have assailed Mr. Benamor for the structure’s lack of fire escapes and even windows in some units, while also criticizing the city and Airbnb for a lack of oversight. Montreal and Quebec have attempted to crack down on short-term rentals in the wake of the tragedy.
Montreal police began investigating the fire as arson in August, 2023, after discovering traces of accelerant at the scene. Police spokesperson David Shane said on Wednesday that the parallel investigation into the deliberate setting of the fire was continuing and would do so until it was resolved. Mr. Benamor is not being accused of involvement in setting the fire, Inspector Shane said.
The victims have been identified as Camille Maheux, 76; An Wu, 31; Dania Zafar, 31; Saniya Khan, 31; Nathan Sears, 35; Charlie Lacroix and Walid Belkahla, both 18.
“The night of March 16, 2023, will forever remain in our collective memory,” Insp. Shane said.
A firefighter at the scene of the fire on March 16, 2023.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Another of Mr. Benamor’s properties was allegedly targeted by arsonists in October, 2024, causing the deaths of Léonar Geraudie, 43, and her seven-year-old daughter Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie, who were visiting from France and staying in a short-term rental above a restaurant.
Justin Fortier-Trahan, 20, and Juventino Hernandez Pelaez, 18, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder and arson, a case still making its way through the courts.
In the following weeks, Mr. Benamor’s law office was shot at, leading to three more arrests, and a car outside Mr. Benamor’s home in Dorval, Que. was set on fire.
With reports from The Canadian Press and Frédérik-Xavier D. Plante