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18-year-old student shot and killed by Montreal police, family seeks answers

Article online since August 9th 2008, 23:00
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MONTREAL - A police patrol in a Montreal park turned ugly Saturday night when an officer opened fire on three young people, killing one man and wounding two others.

An 18-year-old man, identified by his sister as Freddy Alberto Villanueva, died from his wounds in hospital. The other two, an 18 and a 20-year-old, are reported to be in stable condition.

Montreal police say the officers were trying to arrest an individual during a routine police intervention in Henri Bourassa Park in the Montreal district of Montreal North when they were surrounded by a group of about 20 youths. A few individuals allegedly broke away from the group and rushed the officers.

According to police, it was then that one of the officers opened fire.

The officers were not wounded in the incident.

Quebec provincial police are investigating the incident and are interviewing witnesses.

"We do think there are many witnesses, because at that time, around 7 p.m., there were a lot of people in the park or in the surroundings of the park," said Quebec provincial police spokesman Gregory Gomez del Prado. "There were also people who were part of the altercation, and many people playing sports or just sitting in the park."

According to police, there is currently no information on the reasons behind the police intervention and attempted arrest.

"It's too early to say what happened exactly," said Gomez del Prado. "We're talking about the death of a man. It's a major investigation."

Villanueva's sister, Julissa, said in an interview from her home in the Montreal suburb of Laval, that the family is waiting for answers.

"We only know what we see in the news, in the newspapers, that's all," she said, breaking into tears as she spoke about her brother, a student who wanted become a mechanic.

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Your comments

Robert Miller

Comment online since August 15th 2008
We want answers, what really happened. Why is the public kept in the dark? Why is the press not going after the truth and instead is completely apathetic? Information should be forthcoming as the investigation continues, the people involved should be presenting their side of the story without being restricted at all! It is their right to say what happened, our right to hear it. The guy was not a terrorist this is not an issue of national security to hide behind. Get the information and print it!

Just called me Joe

Comment online since August 10th 2008
If the familly can read this, Im sorry for their lost...
On the other hand, I just Wanna say that has a black haitian man, who got no troubles with the police and hate police then, I got no respect for them and more Hate now, I mean, I can get shot like that for no reason!?! They can all go to hell, I know its only one cop who did the job but the whole bunch can go to hell, killing teenager for no reason, are you serious Mr. Po-Po-Po-liceman

R. Gaudreault

Comment online since August 10th 2008
People have to think about something here, it looks like this police officers shot unarmed teenagers! Since when the police has the right to open fire on an unarmed citizen? This is outrageous, it could be my son or your son one day who will suffer from brutal police force, we need to make sure it's not going to happen again!

Montréal Express

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