Three people are in custody after two men were shot and stabbed during an early morning brawl in Vanier Saturday — part of a growing trend of gun violence in the city.
“Definitely, there’s a lot more people turning to firearms,” said Det. Chris O’Brien of the guns and gangs unit.
Cops were called to the Comfort Inn at 112 Montreal Rd. near Vanier Pkwy. at 3:15 a.m.
“We’re still trying to piece together exactly what happened,” said O’Brien. “We’re trying to locate witnesses.”
Both men were taken to hospital in serious but stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
The victims’ ages have not been released.
O’Brien said he’s uncertain if the trio in custody will be charged.
Police were looking for clues in surveillance video from a 24-hour Tim Horton’s across the street.
During the fracas — which took place during a party — guests in the hotel heard a fire alarm go off around 3 a.m., but there was no evacuation.
“There was a lot of shouting and cursing in the parking lot,” said a man visiting with his family from Mattawa.
“It kept us up,” said his wife.
The family was staying on the second floor and said the party must have been on the first floor.
Their son, a university student, was in the lobby studying.
They went back to their room and checked out Saturday morning.
A nearby businessman wasn’t shocked to hear of the ruckus.
“It happens right under your nose and you don’t even know it,” he said.
Several people who work in the 100 block of Montreal Rd. said every Friday and Saturday night parties in the hotel tend to get rowdy.
They said party-goers are 16 to 17 years old and try to use fake IDs, often roaming the strip when that doesn’t work.
Trouble with police usually ensues, they said.
Their sentiments were echoed by a 21-year-old Vanier resident who also didn’t want to be identified.
“There’s stabbings, shootings, everything,” he said.
“Welcome to Vanier,” added his friend.
Elaine Leger of the Vanier Community Association said she’s surprised to hear of the incident, adding people in other parts of the city are quick to look down on Vanier and make assumptions about crime.
“It wasn’t people from Vanier,” she said. “The police have told us we don’t have gangs. Maybe a person is hanging around with gangs.”
kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca
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