2012 Montreal shooting

{{Short description|Shooting at Quebec Premier post-election victory party}}

{{Infobox terrorist attack

| title = 2012 Quebec election shooting

| image = Attack Quebec 2012 Elections Metropolis.jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Caution tape and policemen at Saint Catherine Street in front of the Métropolis building, after the shooting

| location = Montreal, Quebec, Canada

| target = Separatists

| date = September 4, 2012

| time =

| timezone = UTC-4

| type = Shooting, arson

| fatalities = 1

| injuries = 1

| motive = Opposition to the Quebec sovereignty movement

| perp = Richard Henry Bain

| weapons = * CZ-858 semi-automatic rifle

9mm CZ 75 semi-automatic pistol{{Cite news|title=Richard Henry Bain trial: Crown says Quebec election shooting suspect was upset earlier that day|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2753760/richard-henry-bain-trial-crown-says-quebec-election-shooting-suspect-was-upset-earlier-that-day/|access-date=2021-07-07|website=Global News|language=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 downtown Montreal 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.{{Cite web|title=Quebec election-night shooter Richard Bain found guilty of second-degree murder in death of stagehand|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/quebec-election-night-shooter-richard-bain-found-guilty-of-second-degree-murder|access-date=2021-07-07|website=nationalpost|language=en-CA}}{{Cite journal|last=Chasdi|first=Richard J.|date=2012|title=Terrorism in North America (Canada, United States, Mexico), 1970 – 2010: a Research Note|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26296881|journal=Perspectives on Terrorism|volume=6|issue=4/5|pages=145–159|jstor=26296881 |issn=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.{{Cite web|title=Suspect in Parti Québécois shooting hit with 16 criminal charges, including first-degree murder|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/suspect-in-parti-quebecois-shooting-hit-with-16-criminal-charges-including-first-degree-murder|access-date=2021-07-07|website=National Post|language=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.{{Cite web|title=Quebec's top court rules Richard Henry Bain's sentence in election shooting to stand|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5077953/quebecs-top-court-rules-richard-henry-bains-sentence-in-election-shooting-to-stand/|access-date=2021-07-08|website=Global News|language=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 pistol{{cite web|author=|date=September 6, 2012|title=Shooting suspect Richard Henry Bain arraigned on 16 charges, including first-degree murder|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/Shooting+suspect+Richard+Henry+Bain+arraigned+charges+including+first+degree+murder/7200523/story.html|url-status=dead|work=Montreal Gazette|accessdate=September 11, 2012|archive-date=September 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908014738/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Shooting+suspect+Richard+Henry+Bain+arraigned+charges+including+first+degree+murder/7200523/story.html}}{{Cite web|title=Richard Henry Bain trial: Crown says Quebec election shooting suspect was upset earlier that day|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2753760/richard-henry-bain-trial-crown-says-quebec-election-shooting-suspect-was-upset-earlier-that-day/|access-date=2021-07-07|website=Global News|language=en-US}} and a Česká Zbrojovka-858 semiautomatic rifle.{{cite web |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/popular+likeness/7203491/story.html |title=427 Quebecers own semi-automatic rifle linked to election-night shooting |author= |accessdate=September 11, 2012 |work=Global News |date=September 7, 2012}}[http://www.euronews.com/2012/09/05/montreal-shooting-suspect-in-police-custody/ Montreal shooting suspect in police custody] at Euronews; published September 5, 2012; retrieved September 5, 2012[http://www.theobserver.ca/2012/09/06/bain-to-be-charged-with-first-degree-murder PQ 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.{{cite news| url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/No+AK+this%3a+the+Czech+Sa+vz.58.-a0192435268 | work=Guns Magazine | title=No AK this: the Czech Sa vz.58 | year=2009}}{{cite web

| title = Victory rally a crime scene

| publisher = Toronto Star

| date = September 5, 2012

| url = https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1251941--victory-rally-a-crime-scene

| accessdate =September 6, 2012 }}

Bain opened fire, killing Denis Blanchette, a 48-year-old male stage technician.{{cite news |url=http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/justice-et-faits-divers/201209/05/01-4571457-denis-blanchette-est-mort-en-heros.php |newspaper=La Presse |title=Denis Blanchette est mort en héros |date=September 6, 2012 |accessdate=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."{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3gymQqdg3w |newspaper=La Presse |title=Attentat Pauline Marois - Arrestation de Richard Henry Bain |date=September 4, 2012 |accessdate=November 18, 2016}} Although in 2012 it was reported the shooter used a Molotov cocktail,[http://www.thelondoner.ca/2012/09/04/separatists-win-quebec-election 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.{{cite web |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/survivor-of-pq-election-night-shooting-testifies-at-richard-henry-bain-murder-trial |title=Survivor of PQ election-night shooting testifies at Richard Henry Bain murder trial |author=The Canadian Press |author-link=The Canadian Press |accessdate=24 August 2016 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=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.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/05/world/americas/canada-election-shooting/index.html |title=Gunman targets Quebec premier at victory speech |author1=Holly Yan |author2=Michael Pearson |accessdate=September 5, 2012 |work=CNN |date=September 5, 2012}}[https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/05/fatal-shooting-at-quebec-separatists-victory-speech/ Fatal 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.{{cite web |url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/09/05/the-anglos-are-waking-up-pauline-marois-possible-target-of-quebec-election-gunman/ |title='The anglos are waking up': Pauline Marois possible target of Quebec election gunman |author= |accessdate=September 12, 2012 |work=National Post |date=September 5, 2012}}

File:Metropolis Montreal.JPG, the site of the attack]]

Perpetrator

Richard Henry Bain (born September 8, 1950) is an evangelical Baptist from La Conception, Laurentides, Quebec.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/suspected-pq-rally-gunman-id-d-as-mont-tremblant-man-1.1160995 Suspected PQ rally gunman ID'd as Mont Tremblant man] at CBC.ca, by CBC News; published September 5, 2012; retrieved September 5, 2012{{cite web |url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/police-continue-investigate-suspect-parti-quebecois-victory-rally-145738633.html |title=Police identify Richard Henry Bain as a suspect in Parti Quebecois victory rally shooting |author= Yahoo! Canada News |accessdate=September 5, 2012 |work=Yahoo! News |date=September 5, 2012}}[http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/justice-et-faits-divers/201209/06/01-4571496-richard-henry-bain-il-etait-fin-avec-tout-le-monde.php Richard 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.{{cite web |title=Richard Bain to defend himself on trial |url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/richard-bain-to-defend-himself-on-trial-1.1164825 |website=CTV News |date=February 20, 2013 |publisher=La Presse Canadienne |accessdate=2 September 2020}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/murder-and-gun-charges-laid-in-quebec-election-night-shooting-1.1137480 |title=Accused in fatal Quebec election night shooting faces 16 charges |author= |access-date=September 6, 2012 |work=CBC News |date=September 6, 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/Election+night+shooting+suspect+wants+defend+himself/7993295/story.html |title=Election-night shooting suspect wants to defend himself |author= |accessdate= |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=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.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/richard-henry-bain-s-lawyer-gets-extension-on-trial-1.3173972 |title=Richard Henry Bain's lawyer gets extension on trial |author=The Canadian Press |author-link=The Canadian Press |accessdate=October 3, 2015 |work=CBC News |date=July 30, 2015}}

During the trial, Guttman argued the defendant was not criminally responsible.{{cite web |url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/defence-will-argue-richard-bain-was-not-criminally-responsible-for-2012-pq-election-night-attack |title=Richard Bain tells murder trial anti-depressant drugs changed him before 2012 PQ attack |author=Graeme Hamilton |accessdate=24 August 2016 |work=National Post |date=18 July 2016}} However, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Joel Watts, called by the Crown, testified Bain understood his actions were wrong.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/richard-bain-not-criminally-responsible-verdict-unlikely-1.3719421 |title=Why a not criminally responsible verdict is unlikely in Quebec's election-night murder case |author=Jaela Bernstien |accessdate=24 August 2016 |work=CBC News |date=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."{{Cite web|title=Quebec election-night shooter Richard Bain found guilty of second-degree murder in death of stagehand|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/quebec-election-night-shooter-richard-bain-found-guilty-of-second-degree-murder|access-date=2021-07-07|website=nationalpost|language=en-CA}}

On August 23, 2016, Bain was found guilty of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.{{Cite web|title=Quebec's top court rules Richard Henry Bain's sentence in election shooting to stand|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5077953/quebecs-top-court-rules-richard-henry-bains-sentence-in-election-shooting-to-stand/|access-date=2021-07-08|website=Global News|language=en-US}} Sentencing arguments were heard in September 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/richard-bain-verdict-1.3711965 |title=Richard Bain guilty of 2nd-degree murder in 2012 Quebec election-night shooting |author=Jaela Bernstien |access-date=24 August 2016 |work=CBC News |date=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.{{cite web|publisher=CanLII|url=http://www.canlii.org/en/qc/qccs/doc/2016/2016qccs5785/2016qccs5785.html|title=R. c. Bain, 2016 QCCS 5785|date=18 November 2016}} In October 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear his appeal.{{cite news |last1=Buzzetti |first1=Hélène |title=La peine de Richard Henry Bain est maintenue |url=https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/566008/decision-cour-d-appel-bain |access-date=14 May 2025 |agency=La Presse canadienne |publisher=Le Devoir |date=31 October 2019 |language=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".[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/05/quebec-elections-parti-quebecois-minority 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.{{cite news|title=Denis Blanchette to be given civic funeral|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/Blanchette+given+civic+funeral/7202383/story.html|accessdate=September 7, 2012|newspaper=Montreal Gazette|date=September 6, 2012}} The funeral was held on September 10, with Marois and former premier Bernard Landry among the dignitaries in attendance.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/hundreds-attend-pq-rally-shooting-victim-s-funeral-1.1161729?cmp=rss 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.{{cite news|title=Family of victim in PQ victory party shooting holds no 'hostility'|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/family-of-victim-in-pq-victory-party-shooting-holds-no-hostility-1.1145549|access-date=September 8, 2012|newspaper=CBC News|date=September 7, 2012}}