Montreal North vigil to remember Bony Jean-Pierre, Fredy Villanueva

Community members in Montreal North are organizing a protestfollowing the death of a man who was shot by police during a drug raid and tocommemorate what would have been the 26th birthday of FredyVillanueva.

The death of 46-year-old Bony Jean-Pierre shows little has improved in relations with police, say organizers of tonight's demonstration.

• Bony Jean-Pierre, man shot during Montreal North drug bust, has died
• 11 suspects arrested in Montreal North drug raid, 1 injured
• Dany Villanueva, arrested in Montreal North raid, charged with drug trafficking

Jean-Pierre was shot in the head by a Montreal police officer last Thursday witha rubber or plastic bullet. Hedied of his injuries earlier this week.

The Sret du Qubec havebeen in charge of the investigation since the shooting, since Quebec law stipulates that a police shooting resulting indeath or injurymust be investigated by another force.

The SQ have been tight-lipped about the circumstances of the incident, not disclosing what led the officer to shoot.

A spokesperson for the force confirmed the SQ had met with the Montreal police officers.

'There's just so much hurt'

Don Harley Fils-Aim, the spokesperson for Regroupement d'intervenants d'origine hatienne de Montral-Nord, says this incident reminds him ofVillanueva's shooting death at the hands of Montreal police in 2008.

"If there could be a way for people to just stop dying for some things that I find petty, I would be really, really happy for that," Fils-Aim said.

"I'm exhausted with it, frankly."

RobynMaynardfromJustice for Victims of Police Killings said the incident has dredged up larger issues.

"There's just so much hurtwe just see that some lives are valued so much less than others,"

"I think that people are very upset that black lives seem to be worth so little in Montreal,"Maynardsaid.

"And you see the same thing happening in Toronto and all across the country."

Struck while fleeing scene

A total of 11 people were arrested in the drug bust on March 31. Two suspects, including Jean-Pierre, tried to flee the scene.

Dany Villanueva, the brother of Fredy Villaneuva, was also arrested in the raid but released on Monday with strict conditions.

He is prohibited from associating with his co-accused or to be found in a certain area in Montreal North.

Calls for an independent investigation

Projet Montral has asked for an independent investigation into Jean-Pierre's death.

"One life lost is one life too many," Kerlande Mibel, the party's mayoral candidate for the upcoming Montreal North byelection, told reporters.

Mibel also said that in spite of recommendations from the coroner's report into Villanueva's death, that little has been done to improve relations between the community and police.

The Coderre administration declined to comment.

Quebec has long been criticized for its lack of an independent bureau to investigate shootings involving a police officer.

The Parti Qubcoisoutlined plans for anindependent investigation bureau in 2012 but it has been beset by delays.

The bureau isslated to open next month, Radio-Canada reports.