A family’s grief has transformed into a determined pursuit of justice. Nearly three months after 15-year-old Nooran Rezayi was fatally shot by police on Montreal’s South Shore, his family announced they are initiating legal action against the City of Longueuil and the officers involved.
The tragic events unfolded on September 21st, triggered by a 911 call reporting a group of armed individuals in the St-Hubert borough. Police responded, and Nooran, a Quebec-born son of Afghan immigrants, was struck by gunfire. He was carrying only a backpack.
Friends and family vehemently maintain Nooran was unarmed, a claim now supported by investigators who have confirmed no firearm was recovered at the scene. The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), Quebec’s police watchdog, has been investigating the shooting for nearly three months, yet crucial questions remain unanswered.
The lawsuit alleges that officers used “unreasonable and disproportionate force,” firing twice and causing Nooran’s death. The family is seeking $2.2 million in damages, a sum representing not just financial loss, but a desperate plea for accountability.
Nooran’s mother, Fahima Rezayi, stood alongside her lawyers, Fernando Belton and Virginie Dufresne-Lemire, as the legal action was announced. Her pain, raw and palpable, echoes a demand for explanation that has resonated since the moment of the tragedy.
Just weeks after the shooting, Ms. Rezayi publicly implored those responsible to confront her, to look her in the eye and explain the circumstances that led to her son’s death. “They have to answer me,” she stated, a mother’s heartbroken plea for truth.
The BEI, established in 2016 to investigate police operations resulting in serious harm or death to civilians, has faced ongoing scrutiny regarding its effectiveness. While intended to provide independent oversight, its record raises serious concerns.
Following Nooran’s death, BEI director Brigitte Bishop made a rare public statement, urging trust in the investigative process as officers were interviewed. A recent court ruling now compels officers to participate in these interviews, though they retain the right to remain silent.
Since its inception, the BEI has launched over 450 investigations. However, a stark statistic reveals the limited impact of these inquiries: only two cases have resulted in any criminal charges being filed. This raises profound questions about systemic accountability and the pursuit of justice in these sensitive cases.
