A year after 15-year-old Nooran Rezayi was fatally shot by a Longueuil police officer, family and supporters gathered on Montreal’s South Shore to demand answers and press for accountability.
Procession retraces the route from station to the scene
On the evening of Sept. 21, mourners met outside a police station in Longueuil’s Saint-Hubert borough and walked about 20 minutes to the site where Rezayi died on Sept. 21, 2025. Many wore black or white T-shirts printed with a smiling photo of the teenager and the words “Justice for Nooran.”
"There are still no answers," said Rezayi's sister, according to participants at the vigil.
When the procession reached the place where the teenager was shot, his mother, Fahima Rezayi, held a framed photograph of her son and cried out, "Justice for my son." The crowd observed a minute of silence at the spot where the shooting occurred.
Questions remain about the confrontation and subsequent investigation
The circumstances of the killing have been the subject of intense public attention since surveillance video footage released by the family's lawyers suggested Rezayi was shot within seconds of officers arriving. The provincial police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, later confirmed investigators did not recover a firearm from Rezayi; the only weapon seized at the scene was the officer’s service weapon.
More than a year on, provincial prosecutors have not announced whether criminal charges will be laid against the officer involved. That uncertainty was a prominent theme at the vigil, where supporters chanted demands for justice and family lawyers reiterated their frustration at the pace of disclosure.
- Family concerns: The Rezayi family says they have repeatedly sought basic information such as the names of the officers on scene, police reports, and other records they say would explain how the encounter unfolded.
- Civil litigation: The family has filed a civil suit against the City of Longueuil and the officers involved and is seeking disclosure through that process.
- Next court steps: The family's lawyers are expected back in court on Oct. 8 and 9 to press for production of evidence.
"We’ve been asking, for instance, for the names of the police officers, for the reports that were written by the police officers, for any information whatsoever to help us understand why Nooran died the way he died," said Fernando Belton, one of the lawyers representing the family.
Local reaction and the wider conversation
The vigil brought together relatives, friends and members of the public who say Rezayi’s death underscores broader concerns about police interactions with young people. Organisers and attendees described the atmosphere as quiet and solemn, with frequent embraces among family members and a procession led by Rezayi’s relatives.
Those present said the lack of definitive answers from authorities has prolonged the family's grief, complicating efforts to move forward. The civil-disclosure hearings in early October are expected to be a key moment for the family, who have said the documents they seek could help explain what happened in the crucial seconds before Rezayi was shot and why it took more than five hours for his family to be notified of his death.
| Key date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 21, 2025 | Rezayi, 15, was shot and killed by a Longueuil police officer |
| Sept. 21, 2026 | One-year vigil and procession in Saint-Hubert |
| Oct. 8–9, 2026 | Family’s legal team expected in court seeking disclosure |
For residents of Longueuil, the case has been a reminder of the painful intersections between policing, youth and community trust. As proceedings continue in civil court and the watchdog’s investigation remains under public scrutiny, Rezayi’s family and supporters say they will press on in their quest for clarity and accountability.
The coming weeks will test both the legal process and the ability of local institutions to respond to questions that go beyond a single case — questions about transparency and the information families receive after encounters that end in tragedy.
