Police from Halifax to Vancouver attend funeral for Montreal officer killed by gunman

“I will always be proud of you,” she told the crowd, which included Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette. “Proud of the child you were, proud of the man you have become, proud of the police officer you chose to be, proud of your courage and your integrity.

“You dedicated your life to protecting others; you fulfilled your duty with honour until the very last moments.”

His twin brother, Ahmed, said the family came from a coastal town in northeastern Algeria. Life for the Benredouane family changed profoundly after they immigrated to Quebec when the boys were in their early teens, but Mohamed never lost his childhood dream of becoming a police officer, his twin said.

“On June 22, 2026, our world collapsed,” he said. “We lost a son, a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, a colleague. Personally, I lost my other half.”

As the ceremony began, a senior cohort of police officers wrapped their arms around each others’ shoulders as the deceased officer’s police cap was carried into the Bell Centre by a colleague, behind the force’s flag that pays tribute to fallen officers.

Later in the ceremony, the darkened arena was lit by cellphones in the crowd, as a photo montage of Benredouane appeared on a screen to the sound of Coldplay’s “Yellow” — the song playing in his squad car shortly before the officers responded to the shooting.

Police Chief Fady Dagher told the audience that Benredouane’s death felt like losing a member of his own family.

Benredouane should not have been on duty the day he was killed, Dagher said, explaining that the slain officer had been injured a short time before he responded to the 911 call. But when the call came, Benredouane and his partner were first on scene.

“You cut short his murderous rampage. How many people did you save?” Dagher said.

He told the audience that Benredouane was described by his fellow officers as brave and protective of his colleagues and the public.

Benredouane was also the father of a two-year-old son and was expecting the birth of a second baby, said Dagher, who cried as he apologized to the children for not being able to save their father.

The officer who was injured in the shooting said in a statement read at the funeral that Benredouane had been her instructor before they became partners, and that he’d always looked out for his fellow officers.

“Mo, to work with you was a privilege for me,” the officer’s statement said.

Before the ceremony began, thousands of police officers from all over Canada, including with the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and several Indigenous police forces, marched through the streets of Montreal in a procession to honour Benredouane, according to Montreal police. Several dignitaries said some officers from the United States were also present.

A bagpipe band and officers on horseback led the way as the march made its way through downtown. One officer held a police hat on a cushion, walking behind a pickup truck carrying a display of blue and white flowers.

Earlier in the day, Dagher said Benredouane carried out a variety of different assignments at Station 26, which serves the city’s Côte-des-Neiges, Mont-Royal and Outremont neighbourhoods.

“Usually, when a police officer cycles through several teams, it’s because they’re a problem case — but with Mohamed, it was the exact opposite,” he said. “Everyone wanted him on their team.”

Montreal police said more than 5,000 officers were expected to participate, including more than 2,700 from the city’s force. Benredouane is the first Montreal police officer in 24 years to be killed while on duty. He had been with the force since 2021.

Canadian Armed Forces helicopters conducted a ceremonial flyover ahead of the ceremony. People lined the sidewalks as the procession passed by, and children watched from the yard of a daycare. 

Officials have said Benredouane grew up around Côte-des-Neiges and he was well-known in the community. A private ceremony for those close to him was held at the Islamic Centre of Quebec in Montreal on June 24.

Samir Benserradj, who has family connections to Benredouane, said the huge turnout for the procession helped the family feel less alone amid their loss.

“We always think this happens to someone else,” he told reporters. “Then a few hours later, my cousin wrote and said the brother of his wife was killed. It was shocking, it was devastating, especially for his direct family.”

Members of the public were invited to participate in the procession and the funeral.

Nour Gharib, who brought a bouquet of white flowers, said she wanted to show her support to the officer and his family.

“I am sending all my thoughts and prayers to his family, may he rest in peace, and I thank all police officers, firefighters and nurses, who are there for us every day,” the 20-year-old said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2026.

Erika Morris and Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Police from Halifax to Vancouver attend funeral for Montreal officer killed by gunman

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