shooting

Two more suspects arrested in murder of west end spa owner

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg and Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The SPVM announced Friday that two more suspects have been arrested in the May 26, 2023 murder of Claudia Iacono, 39, the owner of a west end spa on Jean Talon in Côte des Neiges-NDG. The shooting occurred at approximately 12:45 p.m. on May 16, 2023 when Iacono pulled into the parking lot of her salon. A shooter emerged and fired at least six shots at her vehicle. First responders pronounced Iacono’s death at the scene. Investigators located multiple shell casings in the parking lot. Several employees of the salon along with Iacono’s sister witnessed the shooting.

The murder took place outside the spa as the victim was driving. As previously reported by The Suburban, Iacono was married to Anthony Gallo, son of Moreno Gallo, a prominent Montreal organized crime figure who was killed in Mexico in 2013.Gallo started in the Calabrian mafia before becoming an influential member of the Rizzuto family in the early 1980s. He was shot to death at age 68 in an Acapulco restaurant in 2013.

The two new suspects, Kalial Nesfield, 28, and Shaniqwa Parris, 31, were arrested Friday morning. Both suspects appeared at the Montreal courthouse where Nesfield was charged with first-degree murder while Parris faces manslaughter charges.Both remain in custody as the legal process proceeds.The two are known to police as they have a criminal history. Nesfield pleaded guilty in 2021 to drug trafficking and weapons charges, including possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. Parris faced drug possession charges in the same case, which were later withdrawn.

The police pointed out that the latest arrests are the third and fourth in the course of the investigation. The first suspect, Joel Richard Clarke, 28, was arrested in Toronto with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police and was charged with first-degree murder. A second suspect, Tyranne Andre Greenidge, 30, was arrested Aug. 14 in Ontario and faced charges of premeditated murder.

More than a year after the murder, gunshots were heard again at the spa. The police said the murder investigation, “was led by the Major Crimes Section, benefited from the support of several SPVM units.”

The SPVM reiterated “the importance of public collaboration in the fight against gun violence. Anyone with information on this subject can contact 911 or their neighbourhood police station. It is also possible to communicate anonymously and confidentially with Info-Crime Montréal at 514 393-1133 or via the reporting form available on the infocrimemontreal.ca website. Rewards of up to $3,000 may be awarded by Info-Crime Montréal for information leading to the arrest of suspects. Certain conditions apply.” n

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Suspect arrested in shoot-out in DDO

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A 26-year-old man is facing a host of charges in connection with last week’s shoot-out with police in Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

Nackeal Hickey,26, was arraigned in the Montreal courthouse to answer on charges including possession of a firearm, discharge of a firearm, and four counts of attempted murder. The accused will remain detained throughout the unfolding of the judicial proceedings.

Hickey was known to police. He was previously charged and awaiting trial in a case of residential breaking and entering. He also has a long criminal history, including aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and breach of conditions.

On Sunday, August 3 at approximately 8 p.m., Hickey allegedly showed up at his childhood friend’s house to settle a conflict, on Davignon Street, near de Salaberry Boulevard in DDO. During a confrontation, a shot was fired and no injuries resulted. Hickey allegedly fled on foot, and attempted to steal a vehicle in a residential parking lot where a 52-year-old man along with his 18-year-old son, were unpacking the vehicle after returning home after a camping trip. Hickey allegedly attempted to steal their vehicle at gunpoint. For reasons that are still unclear, the father and son were shot and wounded.

When officers arrived at the scene, they were blocked from reaching the victims as the suspect opened fire at the officers. A full-blown shoot-out took place between the suspect and police with some 30-40 shots fired according to witnesses. Hickley was injured by gunfire and was transported to hospital. Until the ballistics reports return, it is unclear whether the father and son victims were hit by the suspect or by police gunfire during the shoot-out. At this time, the suspect is not charged with attempted murder of the two victims caught in the crossfire but of attempted murder of police officers.

At one point during the conflict, a stray bullet hit and shattered the window of a house, where a seven-year-old child resides. The child was not injured.

The Bureau of Independent Investigation (BEI) has been tasked with the investigation of the shoot-out that took place between Hickey and the police officers. The agency was mandated almost immediately after the shootings took place at approximately 10:45 p.m. on August 4.

According to information obtained by The Suburban, the shooter opened fire on officers immediately upon their arrival.

According to an eyewitness who wishes to remain anonymous, it was impossible to tell what was going on exactly. “There was a shot fired, then police showed up and there were so many shots being fired and it was scary. I was just praying for it to be over.”

A major perimeter was erected around the neighbourhood for days while the BEI took over the investigation due to the circumstances surrounding the events. Hickey may face further charges as the investigation develops. n

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Police investigate drive-by shooting in Kirkland

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Several 911 calls alerted police officers to a drive-by shooting early Monday morning in the Town of Kirkland.

At approximately 1:25 a.m., several gunshots were fired in the direction of a home located on Beaubois Street near Timberlea Street. When patrol officers arrived on site, they identified several bullet holes on the garage door of the residence along with shell casings on the ground. The officers set up a security perimeter around the crime scene and forensic experts were called in to investigate.

According to authorities, there were people inside the home at the time of the shooting. No injuries were reported.

Investigators reviewed camera surveillance footage from around the neighbourhood and spoke to potential witnesses Monday morning.

A lawn was set on fire with the use of accelerants at the house directly next door three days prior to this most recent attack. A vehicle that was parked in front of a house two doors down was also subject to an arson attack just two weeks ago. When The Suburban arrived on site, the neighbours from two houses were standing outside together discussing the attacks. They refused to comment to reporters on site and returned to their respective homes upon questioning. The Suburban also noted an unusual amount of surveillance cameras surrounding the property from neighbouring homes in comparison to homes further up the road and what could generally be expected in a similar neighbourhood.   

The investigation is ongoing. Updates and more information will follow in The Suburban hard copy.

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