About 1,000 mourners gathered Wednesday evening at the Islamic Centre of Quebec in Montreal’s St-Laurent borough for the funeral of police officer Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, who was killed in Monday’s shootings in Côte-des-Neiges.
His death marked the first time in 24 years that a Montreal police officer had been killed in the line of duty, and drew tributes from police services across Canada and the United States.
On Wednesday, family members, friends and members of Montreal’s Algerian and Muslim communities were joined by senior police officers, as well as St-Laurent borough mayor Alan DeSousa.
A memorial has been set up in the entrance of SPVM Station 26 on Mountain Sights Ave. in memory of fallen Montreal police Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, as seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Tim Snow / Montreal Gazette
Benredouane’s immediate family first performed the ghusl ritual, the Islamic tradition of washing, purifying and perfuming the body before burial.
Relatives emerged shortly after 6:45 p.m. and the crowd began to swell, filling the mosque and then spilling onto the surrounding grounds. Worshippers laid sheets on the ground and joined prayers outside.
Those leading the prayers urged mourners to cherish each day and live life to the fullest, reminding them that life is short and precious. The funeral prayer lasted about 45 minutes.
Montreal police Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane’s funeral was held Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the Islamic Centre of Quebec in Montreal’s St-Laurent borough. Benredouane was killed in the June 22 Côte-des-Neiges shootings. Montreal Gazette
Benredouane was among the first officers to respond to 911 calls from Côte-des-Neiges on Monday. A police source told The Gazette that he had not been scheduled to work that day, but had taken an overtime shift to earn extra money.
Benredouane leaves behind his partner, who is pregnant with their second child, and their three-year-old son.
People from the community who spoke with The Gazette described Benredouane as a constant presence. He was known for helping people from all walks of life and was deeply involved in his St-Laurent neighbourhood.
Near the scene of the shootings Wednesday, a shrine with a photo of Benredouane and flowers stood in tribute.
A memorial is seen in Côte-des-Neiges on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 near the scene where Montreal police Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane and civilian Michel Mizrahi were killed two days earlier. Tim Snow / Montreal Gazette
A GoFundMe campaign for his family had also raised more than $400,000 by Wednesday.
“Behind the uniform was an exceptional man: a dedicated police officer, a loyal friend, a loving husband and an extraordinary father,” the organizers wrote.
Another tribute came from the Ligue amicale maghrébine de soccer Montréal, for which Benredouane played.
“It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of (Benredouane), an officer killed in the line of duty,” the league wrote on Facebook. “The Algerian community has lost one of its own, respected and loved by all.”
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Benredouane’s policing colleagues — including those from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Boston Police Department and the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers — remembered him as an officer who died carrying out his oath to protect the public.
“Our colleague gave his life to protect the citizens of Montreal, loyal to the end of the oath of office he took,” Yves Francoeur, president of the Fraternité des policiers et policières de Montréal, said in a statement.
“Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane leaves behind his loved ones, his colleagues and a whole community that will unite together in sadness.
“We salute his courage and sense of duty, and he will never be forgotten.”
I’ve been writing for the Montreal Gazette since 2023. My favourite stories are ones that make you think and I’m always looking for new ways to tell them. At McGill, I studied economics and computer science. Now I live in the city’s Plateau, where I wear Doc Martens to try and blend in among the hipsters. Got a story? Email me.
hnorth@postmedia.com