‘Many unanswered questions’: Accused Montreal gunman was Alberta university student

LETHBRIDGE – Police and a university in southern Alberta were pulled Tuesday into the investigation of a fatal police shooting in Montreal after the accused gunman was identified as a student at the school.

The University of Lethbridge said 25-year-old Seth Scott Hatfield was a student. A dean’s honour list from the university’s faculty of arts and science named him for his outstanding academic performance in philosophy studies.

The university said in a statement that it’s co-operating with authorities and condemned Monday’s violence outside a Montreal hotel.

“This has been a traumatic event for some members of the university community,” the school said.

“The university has communicated about how to access its counselling services including directly to individuals who would have taught, learned with or who may have known the individual.”

Montreal police said two officers were shot — one was killed along with a bystander, and the shooter died in the crossfire.

A Quebec coroner on Tuesday identified the shooter as Hatfield, a resident of Lethbridge.

Multiple Quebec media outlets reported the gunman wrote a manifesto expressing hatred toward women and calling for more violence.

“Violence, such as the actions that occurred yesterday, has no place in our society,” said the Lethbridge university’s statement.

“The university also strongly condemns the views and ideologies that have been attributed to the shooter in media reports.”

Montreal police have said someone called 911 Monday morning about a person sticking a gun out a window at the Hilton hotel. Officers arrived and were targeted with gunfire.

One witness said he heard 30 or 40 shots. Videos posted on social media appear to show a person carrying a long gun wearing an olive-coloured jacket and cargo pants.

Officer Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, 34, and Michel Mizrahi, 68, a well-known member of Montreal’s Jewish community, were identified as the two others killed.

Lethbridge police said they were assisting Montreal investigators.

Officers conducted a high-risk search at a home about two kilometres from the university. A news release said due to the possible presence of weapons, police had evacuated some neighbouring homes as a precaution.

Yellow police tape marked off a section of townhouses during the search. White police vans — one marked tactical unit and the other an explosive disposal unit — were parked nearby.

“We understand many members of our community are deeply troubled by the fact the subject is from Lethbridge and there are many unanswered questions,” police said.

“We recognize the public is looking for answers and appreciate the concern this incident has raised both locally and across the country.”

In Montreal, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada visited the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood where the shooting happened and said it had resonated far beyond her city.

“It’s terrible what happened yesterday. I’ve received messages of sympathy and condolences from all over, from Canada, but also from outside Canada,” she told reporters.

“This story has made headlines around the world.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2026.