FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

Less than 48 hours after its grand opening, a Pointe Claire restaurant was struck by gunfire in an early morning attack that Montreal police are investigating as a potential gang initiation, which, according to one criminologist, is becoming a growing problem in the Montreal region.

Police were called to Envy Restaurant on Aug. 30 at about 2:45 a.m. after at least one bullet was fired through a window of the business on Brunswick Blvd., just west of Sources Blvd. No injuries were reported. The restaurant had just closed its doors for the night.

Described as a high-end supper club, Envy opened its doors for the first time on Aug. 28. Investigators are looking into various reasons for the attack, including a random gang initiation.

While police have not publicly declared the attack to be gang-related, the Envy incident is just one of numerous shootings that have made headlines in the past several months, along with a handful of fire-bombings at bars and restaurants.

Maria Mourani, a criminologist who has studied Montreal street gangs and written about organized crime in Quebec and around the world, says she is not surprised by the recent rise in gun violence.

“There’s a certain instability,” Mourani said, referring to the current climate among crime factions in the city. “People are trying to leave their mark, to see who’s dominant and who’s not.