MONTREAL – Several dozen people met Thursday evening to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Fredy Villanueva, the unarmed 18-year-old shot by Montreal police four years ago.
The vigil was attended by friends, family and supporters, local community members, Quebec Solidaire candidate and local activist, Will Prosper, and Fredy’s mother, Lilian Madrid Villanueva.
“My little child, he is dead for nothing,” Villaneuva told those gathered.
“For me, this is a very difficult time. I would like to send a message. I would like justice for the death of my son.”
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On August 9, 2008, Villanueva was playing dice with a group of friends in a parking lot beside Henri-Bourassa Park in Montreal North.
As police approached the group, an altercation ensued, and Const. Jean-Loup Lapointe fired his gun as he tried to arrest Villanueva’s brother Dany.
Two other men were also wounded.
Alexandre Popovic, a spokesperson for the Coalition Against Repression and Police Brutality was at the vigil.
He told Global News that Villenueva died for nothing because a policeman was too quick on the trigger.
“It’s unfair for a young man to die in such a violent way and it’s unfair that nothing happened about this police officer who shot him,” Popovic said.
“That’s why it is important to remember Fredy Villanueva.”
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