Mouloud Moussouni acted swiftly upon hearing the cries of children in his Montreal neighborhood following a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a 41-year-old mother. Recounting the heartbreaking moment when one of the victim’s children disclosed the grim reality of the situation, Moussouni expressed his distress over not being able to assist the woman further. Despite his dead phone battery, he urgently alerted neighbors to call 911 and eventually made the emergency call from his landline.
A 911 call around 2:25 p.m. notified the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) of the distressing event on 39th Street near Paul-Corbeil Street in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough. Upon arrival, law enforcement found the woman deceased and a 35-year-old man critically injured, both displaying upper body injuries consistent with a sharp object.
The man, currently in critical condition, is considered a suspect in the ongoing investigation characterized by intimate partner violence. The police have not confirmed the man’s relationship to the children or the status of the couple’s relationship.
Neighborhood resident Frankel Jean provided refuge for the victim’s three children and her roommate’s child following the incident, a situation he described as unprecedented in his long tenure in the area. The children stayed with Jean until early evening, receiving assistance from the police before being taken into custody by the authorities.
According to the SPVM, five women have fallen victim to intimate partner violence in the greater Montreal region this year, with the Coalition féministe contre la violence envers les femmes reporting a total of 16 “possible femicides” in Quebec to date. In 2025, the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability documented 14 Quebec victims of intimate partner violence-related deaths.
The incident on Monday occurred shortly after a 44-year-old woman was found deceased in the Saint-Michel area, with her 51-year-old partner facing legal repercussions, as per police statements.
A counselor at the West Island Women’s Shelter expressed deep concern over the recent deaths, emphasizing the importance of increased awareness and resources to combat intimate partner violence effectively. Highlighting the need for enhanced sensitivity training and government funding for support services and shelters, the counselor stressed the significance of recognizing warning signs of abuse to prevent further tragedies.
Frantz Benjamin, the MNA for the Viau riding encompassing Saint-Michel, conveyed shock and called for collective action to combat violence against women, emphasizing the imperative of providing psychological support to victims, their families, and the community in the aftermath of such tragic events.