2012 Montreal shooting

Shooting at Quebec Premier post-election victory party September 2012 Attack Quebec 2012 Elections Metropolis.jpg 250 Caution tape and policemen at Saint Catherine Street in front of the Métropolis building, after the shooting Montreal, Quebec, Canada Separatists September 4, 2012 UTC-4 Shooting, arson 1 1 Opposition to the Quebec sovereignty movement Richard Henry Bain * CZ-858 semi-automatic rifle 9mm CZ 75 semi-automatic pistolRichard Henry Bain trial: Crown says Quebec election shooting suspect was upset earlier that day https://globalnews.ca/news/2753760/richard-henry-bain-trial-crown-says-quebec-election-shooting-suspect-was-upset-earlier-that-day/ 2021-07-07 Global News en-US On the night of September 4, 2012, the Parti Québécois won the Quebec general election, with a minority government. Party leader Pauline Marois was partway through her victory speech at the Métropolis in the downtown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, when Richard Henry Bain, in an attempt to assassinate her and "kill as many separatists as possible", approached the building and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, killing one stage technician and severely injuring another.Quebec election-night shooter Richard Bain found guilty of second-degree murder in death of stagehand https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/quebec-election-night-shooter-richard-bain-found-guilty-of-second-degree-murder 2021-07-07 nationalpost en-CAChasdi Richard J. 2012 Terrorism in North America (Canada, United States, Mexico), 1970 – 2010: a Research Note https://www.jstor.org/stable/26296881 Perspectives on Terrorism 6 4/5 145–159 26296881 2334-3745 After his rifle jammed, Bain lit a fire in the back of the building and was quickly tackled and apprehended by Montreal police.Suspect in Parti Québécois shooting hit with 16 criminal charges, including first-degree murder https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/suspect-in-parti-quebecois-shooting-hit-with-16-criminal-charges-including-first-degree-murder 2021-07-07 National Post en-CA In 2016, Bain was convicted of second-degree murder along with three counts of attempted murder and was sentenced to twenty years in prison.Quebec's top court rules Richard Henry Bain's sentence in election shooting to stand https://globalnews.ca/news/5077953/quebecs-top-court-rules-richard-henry-bains-sentence-in-election-shooting-to-stand/ 2021-07-08 Global News en-US Details Bain, wearing a blue bathrobe and black balaclava approached the back door of the Métropolis theatre with a 9mm CZ 75 semi-automatic pistolSeptember 6, 2012 Shooting suspect Richard Henry Bain arraigned on 16 charges, including first-degree murder https://montrealgazette.com/news/Shooting+suspect+Richard+Henry+Bain+arraigned+charges+including+first+degree+murder/7200523/story.html dead Montreal Gazette September 11, 2012 September 8, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120908014738/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Shooting+suspect+Richard+Henry+Bain+arraigned+charges+including+first+degree+murder/7200523/story.htmlRichard Henry Bain trial: Crown says Quebec election shooting suspect was upset earlier that day https://globalnews.ca/news/2753760/richard-henry-bain-trial-crown-says-quebec-election-shooting-suspect-was-upset-earlier-that-day/ 2021-07-07 Global News en-US and a Česká Zbrojovka-858 semiautomatic rifle.https://montrealgazette.com/news/popular+likeness/7203491/story.html 427 Quebecers own semi-automatic rifle linked to election-night shooting September 11, 2012 Global News September 7, 2012Montreal shooting suspect in police custody https://web.archive.org/web/20120907023914/http://www.euronews.com/2012/09/05/montreal-shooting-suspect-in-police-custody/ September 7, 2012 at Euronews; published September 5, 2012; retrieved September 5, 2012PQ shooting suspect faces charges including murder, arson. The Observer, September 6, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2012. Initial eyewitness reports claimed the rifle was an AK-47 assault rifle, which is similar in appearance to the semiautomatic CZ-858.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/No+AK+this%3a+the+Czech+Sa+vz.58.-a0192435268 Guns Magazine No AK this: the Czech Sa vz.58 2009 Victory rally a crime scene Toronto Star September 5, 2012 https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1251941--victory-rally-a-crime-scene September 6, 2012 Bain opened fire, killing Denis Blanchette, a 48-year-old male stage technician.http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/justice-et-faits-divers/201209/05/01-4571457-denis-blanchette-est-mort-en-heros.php La Presse Denis Blanchette est mort en héros September 6, 2012 September 6, 2012 His 27-year-old colleague, Dave Courage, was critically wounded. Marois was whisked away from the stage without harm by her bodyguards, and the suspect was apprehended and arrested, shortly after he had started a fire at the back entrance of the building. While being led to the police vehicle during his arrest, the suspect called out "The English are waking up!" and "It's going to be fucking payback."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3gymQqdg3w La Presse Attentat Pauline Marois - Arrestation de Richard Henry Bain September 4, 2012 November 18, 2016 Although in 2012 it was reported the shooter used a Molotov cocktail,Suspect in PQ shooting acted alone: Cops. The Londoner, September 5, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2012. it was later alleged Bain poured gasoline on a door and ignited it with a road flare.https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/survivor-of-pq-election-night-shooting-testifies-at-richard-henry-bain-murder-trial Survivor of PQ election-night shooting testifies at Richard Henry Bain murder trial The Canadian Press The Canadian Press 24 August 2016 The Montreal Gazette 15 June 2016 Several families living in the area had to be evacuated out of their homes due to the fire, which was quickly doused.http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/05/world/americas/canada-election-shooting/index.html Gunman targets Quebec premier at victory speech Holly Yan Michael Pearson September 5, 2012 CNN September 5, 2012Fatal Shooting At Quebec Separatist's Victory Speech, at TIME, by Judith Welikala; published September 5, 2012; retrieved September 5, 2012 The Sûreté du Québec announced that the shooting would be investigated as a potential attempted assassination on Marois, the then-premier-designate.https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/the-anglos-are-waking-up-pauline-marois-possible-target-of-quebec-election-gunman 'The anglos are waking up': Pauline Marois possible target of Quebec election gunman September 12, 2012 National Post September 5, 2012 thumb|right|200px|The Métropolis, the site of the attack Perpetrator Richard Henry Bain (born September 8, 1950) is an evangelical Baptist from La Conception, Laurentides, Quebec.Suspected PQ rally gunman ID'd as Mont Tremblant man at CBC.ca, by CBC News; published September 5, 2012; retrieved September 5, 2012http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/police-continue-investigate-suspect-parti-quebecois-victory-rally-145738633.html Police identify Richard Henry Bain as a suspect in Parti Quebecois victory rally shooting Yahoo! Canada News September 5, 2012 Yahoo! News September 5, 2012Richard Henry Bain: «il était fin avec tout le monde» at La Presse; published September 6, 2012; retrieved August 29, 2017 Police searched Bain's vehicle and found a 9mm Beretta pistol, a .357 Magnum revolver, a .22-calibre semi-automatic rifle, lighter fluid and gas canisters that could have been used for the fire. Legal proceedings Bain faced 16 charges, including one first-degree murder and three attempted murders; the remnant charges are related to arson and weapons violations. In several of the multiple court hearings, Bain claimed that Jesus Christ is his lawyer. After losing his legal aid lawyer, he looked for a new lawyer and read up on the criminal code to represent himself. He had a preliminary hearing scheduled on March 12, 2013.Richard Bain to defend himself on trial https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/richard-bain-to-defend-himself-on-trial/ CTV News February 20, 2013 La Presse Canadienne 2 September 2020https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/murder-and-gun-charges-laid-in-quebec-election-night-shooting-1.1137480 Accused in fatal Quebec election night shooting faces 16 charges September 6, 2012 CBC News September 6, 2012https://montrealgazette.com/news/Election+night+shooting+suspect+wants+defend+himself/7993295/story.html Election-night shooting suspect wants to defend himself The Montreal Gazette February 20, 2013 With Alan Guttman as his new defence lawyer, Bain's trial was delayed to May 2016 while Guttman sought an expert to perform another psychiatric evaluation of Bain. Guttman claimed that Bain was on anti-depressants with side effects on personality and hallucinations.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/richard-henry-bain-s-lawyer-gets-extension-on-trial-1.3173972 Richard Henry Bain's lawyer gets extension on trial The Canadian Press The Canadian Press October 3, 2015 CBC News July 30, 2015 During the trial, Guttman argued the defendant was not criminally responsible.https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/defence-will-argue-richard-bain-was-not-criminally-responsible-for-2012-pq-election-night-attack Richard Bain tells murder trial anti-depressant drugs changed him before 2012 PQ attack Graeme Hamilton 24 August 2016 National Post 18 July 2016 However, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Joel Watts, called by the Crown, testified Bain understood his actions were wrong.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/richard-bain-not-criminally-responsible-verdict-unlikely-1.3719421 Why a not criminally responsible verdict is unlikely in Quebec's election-night murder case Jaela Bernstien 24 August 2016 CBC News 13 August 2016 In their closing arguments, the prosecution cited handwritten answers Bain provided to psychiatrist Marie-Frédérique Allard, who had previously testified for the defense, which stated "If my rifle had not jammed I would have killed other people" and "if Madame Marois could be seen, I would have killed her."Quebec election-night shooter Richard Bain found guilty of second-degree murder in death of stagehand https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/quebec-election-night-shooter-richard-bain-found-guilty-of-second-degree-murder 2021-07-07 nationalpost en-CA On August 23, 2016, Bain was found guilty of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.Quebec's top court rules Richard Henry Bain's sentence in election shooting to stand https://globalnews.ca/news/5077953/quebecs-top-court-rules-richard-henry-bains-sentence-in-election-shooting-to-stand/ 2021-07-08 Global News en-US Sentencing arguments were heard in September 2016.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/richard-bain-verdict-1.3711965 Richard Bain guilty of 2nd-degree murder in 2012 Quebec election-night shooting Jaela Bernstien 24 August 2016 CBC News 23 August 2016 On November 18, 2016, Bain was sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole until he has served 20 years of that sentence.CanLII http://www.canlii.org/en/qc/qccs/doc/2016/2016qccs5785/2016qccs5785.html R. c. Bain, 2016 QCCS 5785 18 November 2016 In October 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear his appeal.Buzzetti Hélène La peine de Richard Henry Bain est maintenue https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/566008/decision-cour-d-appel-bain 14 May 2025 La Presse canadienne Le Devoir 31 October 2019 fr-CA Official reaction Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that he was 'shocked and saddened' by the shooting, and that "such violence has no place in Canada".Fatal shooting at Pauline Marois Quebec victory speech at The Guardian; by Isabeau Doucet; published September 5, 2012; retrieved September 5, 2012 At a party caucus meeting in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Democratic Party leader Tom Mulcair issued the following statement: "Our first thoughts are with the victims and their families and those that were close to them. We're going to continue to let the police do their work before commenting any further on these tragic events." On September 6, it was reported that Denis Blanchette would be given a civic funeral.Denis Blanchette to be given civic funeral https://montrealgazette.com/news/Blanchette+given+civic+funeral/7202383/story.html September 7, 2012 Montreal Gazette September 6, 2012 The funeral was held on September 10, with Marois and former premier Bernard Landry among the dignitaries in attendance.Hundreds attend PQ rally shooting victim's funeral. CBC News, September 10, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2012. Équipe Spectra also organized a benefit concert in memory of Blanchette, with funds to support Blanchette's four-year-old daughter.Family of victim in PQ victory party shooting holds no 'hostility' https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/family-of-victim-in-pq-victory-party-shooting-holds-no-hostility-1.1145549 September 8, 2012 CBC News September 7, 2012 References 45 30 39 N 73 33 48 W region:CA_type:landmark_source:kolossus-frwiki title Category:Anti-Quebec sentiment Category:Deaths by firearm in Montreal Category:Electoral violence Category:Parti Québécois Category:Quartier Latin, Montreal Category:Fires in Montreal Category:Murder in Quebec Category:2012 in Montreal Category:2012 murders in Canada Category:September 2012 crimes in North America Category:Failed assassination attempts in North America Category:2010s fires in Canada Category:Arson in 2012 Category:September 2012 in Canada Category:Building and structure arson attacks in Canada Category:Terrorist incidents in Canada in the 2010s Category:Terrorist incidents in North America in 2012 Category:Attacks on music venues Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2012 Category:2012 in Canadian politics