In Montreal, Mouloud Moussouni was quick to react to the cries of children in his neighborhood following a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a 41-year-old mother. Moussouni recounted how one of the children disclosed the grim reality of the situation, stating, “My father killed my mom.”
The harrowing event has haunted Moussouni, who questioned if he could have done more to assist the woman. With a dead phone battery, he urgently called out to neighbors to dial 911, eventually making the call from his landline. The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) received a 911 call around 2:25 p.m. reporting the situation on 39th Street near Paul-Corbeil Street.
Upon police arrival, the woman was pronounced dead, and a 35-year-old man was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries to their upper bodies, possibly inflicted by a sharp object. The man, now a suspect in the ongoing investigation, remains in critical condition. Authorities have categorized the incident as a case of intimate partner violence, but have not confirmed the man’s relationship to the children or the current status of the couple.
Neighbour Frankel Jean provided temporary shelter for the victim’s three children and her roommate’s child following the tragedy. Expressing disbelief at the situation, Jean remarked that it was the first time he had witnessed such a tragedy since residing in the area since 1985. The children stayed with Jean until approximately 6 p.m., and the police provided them with food before eventually taking them into custody.
This year in the greater Montreal area, five women have lost their lives due to intimate partner violence, as reported by the SPVM. Additionally, the Coalition féministe contre la violence envers les femmes has identified a total of 16 “possible femicides” in Quebec in the current year. The Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability documented 14 Quebec victims in 2025 who fell victim to intimate partner violence.
A recent report from Statistics Canada revealed a 29% surge in family violence cases in Quebec since 2018, marking the highest increase among all Canadian provinces. The tragic incident on Monday occurred just days after the death of a 44-year-old woman in the Saint-Michel area, with her 51-year-old partner facing impending charges.
Helene, a counselor at the West Island Women’s Shelter, expressed deep sorrow at the recent deaths in the city and emphasized the urgent need for more support and resources to combat intimate partner violence. She stressed the importance of community awareness and sensitivity training to identify signs of abuse and provide timely intervention to protect victims.
Frantz Benjamin, the MNA for the Viau riding, which encompasses Saint-Michel, voiced his shock and called for collective societal action to combat violence against women. He emphasized the need for enhanced psychological support for victims, their families, and neighbors, stressing the importance of a united effort to prevent such tragedies.
If you are in immediate danger or facing family or intimate partner violence, please call 911 or seek assistance from crisis lines and local support services.