Interference by police after Quebec teen killed by cops can’t go unpunished: lawyers

MONTREAL — Lawyers representing the family of a Longueuil, Que., teen who was shot dead by police in September say they are shocked by allegations of police interference in the investigation by the province’s police watchdog.

The allegations came to light Thursday, when Longueuil Mayor Catherine Fournier released correspondence between the police force and a provincial watchdog that provides a timeline of what police officers allegedly did immediately after the fatal shooting of Nooran Rezayi, 15.

Rezayi was killed Sept. 21 after being shot by an officer in the suburban neighbourhood south of Montreal.

Brigitte Bishop, director of the watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, alleged in the correspondence officers questioned witnesses about the actions of police and attempted to obtain video footage, even though this was against the rules they were supposed to follow.

Bishop also alleged the police department took over 90 minutes to inform the watchdog a civilian had been shot, also contrary to requirements under the provincial Police Act.

The rules regarding independent investigations of police are in place to maintain public trust, Bishop noted in her correspondence with Longueuil’s police chief, Patrick Bélanger.

The documents suggested “a clear interference by the Longueuil police in the BEI investigation to protect its colleagues, in defiance of the law and fundamental principles of justice,” family lawyers Fernando Belton and Virginie Dufresne-Lemire wrote.

In a letter dated Nov. 5, Bishop told Bélanger an obligation to report the shooting without delay hadn’t been respected, with a full one hour and 36 minutes between the shooting and a call to the watchdog.

Bishop also noted Longueuil officers met with witnesses before and after the watchdog’s investigation began. She told Bélanger he was responsible for the actions of the officers he supervises.

In a letter dated Nov. 11, Bélanger replied, writing officers had to meet with witnesses because the 911 call mentioned numerous armed individuals in a residential neighbourhood. He defended his officers’ actions ahead of calling the BEI, noting they had a responsibility to provide care for the victim and ensure there was no further threat to public safety.

The Longueuil police chief also wrote another call at 3:26 p.m. suggested the presence of an armed individual a few kilometres away that could be linked to the first 911 call.

Bélanger called the delay “reasonable and justified” given the circumstances. He also pushed back on the rules in place of advising the watchdog “without delay,” arguing that didn’t mean “immediately,” but at the first reasonable occasion.

A subsequent response from Bishop dated Nov. 25 said police confirmed three minutes after the shooting there were no other armed suspects. She also wrote the officers met witnesses, took statements and sought out videos.

Some of those interventions took place up until 6:22 p.m., well after the investigation should have been handed over. Bishop noted the average time for police to contact the BEI post-event is 33 minutes.

Bishop made clear the only obligation Longueuil police had was to secure the area and preserve the evidence for the BEI.

“In this case, your officers met with witnesses between 3:26 p.m. and 6:22 p.m., collecting, among other things, 16 written statements from civilian witnesses interviewed during the investigation,” Bishop wrote.

“These interviews included questions directly related to events involving your own police force, which raises significant questions about the apparent independence of the steps taken.”

Bishop noted some witnesses had to be reassured by the BEI and interviews had to be conducted anew.

The family’s lawyers called for accountability, adding the watchdog has been aware of this type of behaviour by police since 2016, when the BEI was established.

“The (Longueuil police) officers’ interviews with numerous key witnesses constitute a major breach of the integrity of the evidence gathered during the investigation,” the family lawyers said.

“It is high time these behaviours were punished. The contempt shown by Longueuil officers towards the BEI investigation cannot go unpunished.”

That sentiment was echoed by a civil rights organization that weighed in Friday.

“Police officers are not supposed to be ignorant of the law, and they are not above the law,” said Lynda Khelil of the Ligue des droits et libertés. “So why is it that when police officers break laws and regulations like this, they remain unpunished? That’s what we’re criticizing.”

On Tuesday, the Rezayi family announced it was seeking to sue the City of Longueuil for $2.2 million over the teen’s death.

Video presented at a news conference by the family and their lawyers shows Rezayi was shot within 10 seconds of police parking their cruiser on the scene.

Fournier, the Longueuil mayor, has asked the provincial government to appoint someone to launch a separate investigation into the police response to the shooting. Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière said Thursday the government was reviewing her request.

Montreal police previously launched a parallel criminal investigation in connection with the shooting.

In a statement late Thursday, Longueuil police said it was the police chief who informed city officials about the BEI allegations and the force said it wants to demonstrate complete transparency surrounding the events.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2025.

Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press