A police cruiser turns the corner. Eight seconds later, 15-year-old Nooran Rezayi was shot dead

The video in this article includes content that may be disturbing to some viewers. 

Lawyers for the family of Nooran Rezayi, the 15-year-old boy who was shot and killed by Longueuil police in September on Montreal’s South Shore, released previously unseen surveillance footage Tuesday capturing the final seconds before the fatal encounter. It has prompted renewed questions about the speed and force of the police intervention.

Around three months after Nooran’s death on Sept. 21, the family announced it is suing the city of Longueuil and the police officers involved, who remain anonymous, for more than $2 million. The family, who say they have been left in the dark by authorities, accuse officers of using “unreasonable and disproportionate force” when they shot the teen twice.

Longueuil police had responded to a 911 call describing a “group of armed people” in the residential neighbourhood of St-Hubert, according to Quebec’s Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), the provincial police watchdog that investigates police shootings and serious injuries involving officers.

But the BEI has since confirmed that no firearm was recovered at the scene. Its investigation is now entering its third month. The officer who fired the shots was placed on leave shortly after the incident, the BEI announced in the days after the shooting.

Three clips posted on YouTube, which appear to be taken from a nearby neighbour’s outdoor security cameras, show Nooran and his friends minutes before police arrived on the quiet residential street. None of the videos capture the moment Nooran was struck by the bullets.

Just four minutes before police arrived, Nooran and about half a dozen friends can be seen in the footage sitting on the street-corner’s curb. They’re mostly dressed in black, their faces blurred, then suddenly, all but one of the them sprint out of the frame.

A Longueuil police cruiser swings into view, with its engine roaring as it turns the corner behind the group. The teens and the police vehicle both then disappear from the camera’s view as shouting is heard.

“Get down on the ground!” an officer reportedly yells three times.

Eight seconds passed between the cruiser appearing and the first shouted command, according to the video timestamps.
Three more seconds pass amid continued shouting, before — BANG. BANG.

More shouting follows, and a voice different from that shouting to get down can heard saying: “Yo, what the f—?”

In a separate clip posted by the lawyers, bystanders around the corner can be seen running toward the scene and then fleeing after the shots.

At Tuesday’s press conference, the family’s lawyers condemned what they called the speed and escalation of the intervention.

Also addressing reporters was Nooran’s mother, Fahima Rezayi, who held back tears. She described her son as “a kind kid, cheerful, funny, who loved enjoying life.”

“We want justice. We want this officer to be punished and the police department to take responsibility. This must never happen again,” she said.

Fernando Belton, one of the family’s lawyers, said the civil case could take months, depending on how quickly the city responds.

The city of Longueuil and the BEI told The Gazette they have taken note of the lawsuit, but would not comment further.

hnorth@postmedia.com

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