đŸ”— Share this article Assassination of Gang Leader in Canadian Starbucks Suggests Transition to Audacious Tactics, Say Organized Crime Analysts The bold public execution of a notable Quebec gang leader inside a suburban Starbucks this week could indicate a developing, more chaotic and brash landscape when it comes to criminal organizations, experts note. Leadership Void Appearing The arrests of purported high-ranking, veteran members of the local underworld in June has possibly created a void – meaning newer, younger gangs are attempting to establish themselves. Violent Attack Details Police said at a media update that they were summoned to a Starbucks in Laval, Quebec at about mid-morning on Wednesday because of alerts of a gunfire inside the establishment. A single individual was fatally shot and two more individuals were injured. Targeted Person While authorities have not confirmed the victim's name, several journalistic sources have indicated the man fatally shot was a convicted drug trafficker, four decades old, also known by an nickname. The individual was the chief of a criminal group operating in the area. Authority Comments The province's security official stated: "All evidence suggests it being an event connected with criminal organizations." The local police chief told reporters that while he could not speak specifically on the investigation, he is familiar with the man targeted due to his "notoriety". "The individual was associated with organised crime," he added. Criminal History The targeted individual was first associated formally to criminal activity in the mid-2000s when police in Montreal arrested him and multiple associates in a illegal substance investigation. He ultimately admitting responsibility on drug-related charges and was given to 24 months in prison. According to documents, the man was detained for a subsequent occasion in over a decade ago, again for narcotics distribution, and was later given to another 60 months in prison. Professional Assessment A academic specialist said that organised crime in the area used to be marked around showing discretion over open confrontations and depended on a clear hierarchical structure. An bold midday assassination at a popular cafĂ© suggests there may not be a controlling entity maintaining control – as aggression could harm business when it comes to drug trafficking, explained the analyst. Control Loss The analyst stated it is plausible that the group which eliminated the criminal boss simply "were unconcerned" about the public display of force in order to eliminate their quarry. But the analyst believes more probable is there has been a loss of hierarchy and control within organised crime in Montreal, associated with significant apprehensions of the suspected heads of the city's organized crime made in June. Key Detentions After a three-year inquiry, law enforcement arrested an suspected criminal organization head and indicted him with homicide and other associated charges. Present Circumstances The latest arrests were seen as the ultimate "decisive blow" for the long-standing organized crime, noted the analyst. It has resulted in a void that emerging urban organizations are striving to occupy. The recent shooting is an sign of an uncertain, changing environment, he noted. "There is kind of this plethora of lesser, not super well-organised gangs ... that are competing for power," he remarked.