Car set on fire at home of the owner of Old Montreal buildings where fatal fires occurred
Émile Benamor's office, which is also in Old Montreal, was shot at last week
A car was intentionally set on fire in a driveway on Montreal’s West Island early Thursday morning, with Radio-Canada reporting that the residence belongs to Émile Benamor, the landlord of two Old Montreal buildings where fatal fires occurred.
Montreal police responded to the incident on Whitehead Terrasse, near the corner of Lake Shore Drive in Dorval, Quebec. They confirmed that a gas can was found next to the burning vehicle.
According to police, no injuries were reported, and the house and surrounding properties were unharmed, though the car was completely destroyed. Authorities suspect that an accelerant was used to ignite the fire, with the suspect fleeing on foot before police arrived.
This is the second recent criminal incident involving Benamor, who is also a lawyer. Just over a week earlier, on Tuesday, multiple gunshots were fired at his office in Old Montreal.
Benamor owns two buildings in Old Montreal that have been the sites of deadly fires in the past 19 months. The most recent fire, on October 4, claimed the lives of a 43-year-old mother and her seven-year-old daughter. The earlier fire, on March 16, 2023, resulted in seven deaths.
Two individuals have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the October 4 fire. The investigation into last year’s fire is still under review by the Crown prosecutor’s office, which will decide whether to pursue charges.
Both incidents will be subject to one or more coroner's inquiries.
