The Gazette
Telemarketing Shooting
January 19, 2004
-- Montreal - Three men are recovering after they were wounded
yesterday by a volley of bullets inside a Décarie Blvd.
office building, Montreal police say.
The shooting took place in the offices of Aventis Technologies
Corp. The three victims - a man age 23, a man in his 30s,
and George Haligua, 48, described by numerous employees as
the president of Aventis Technologies - were in stable condition
in a hospital, recuperating from gunshot wounds. A woman suffering
nervous shock was also treated at a hospital.
The gunmen emerged from the Aventis offices after the shooting
and calmly left through the front door, police said.
Police are looking for three white men, in their 40s or early
50s, as suspects in this case, said Constable Miguel Alston,
a police spokesperson.
The Aventis building, between Vézina St. and Plamondon
Ave., at the north end of Décarie Blvd., was crawling
with police officers yesterday. Investigators were hopeful
surveillance cameras inside the building and at the entrance
caught images of the trio of gun-men.
Aventis Technologies is listed as a call-handling centre
for private companies. It also provides financing and leasing
services for computers and home electronics.
The three gunmen arrived at the office about 1:30 p.m. One
man asked the receptionist for a specific individual. While
she was trying to reach him on the telephone, the two others
burst into the offices behind her and an argument ensued.
Employees reported hearing gunshots, Alston said.
The three gunmen appear to have escaped on foot. Police do
not have a description of a getaway vehicle.
The victims were all shot in the legs. Their injuries were
described as not life-threatening. "Is it a message they
wanted to send? Our investigators are looking into it,"
Alston said.
Another employee told The Gazette that in recent weeks, the
head of Aventis Technologies had hired bodyguards for protection.
A police spokesperson said last night it was too early to
confirm the motive for the shooting.
One employee who was on the third floor of the building reported
hearing gunshots. Staff were then herded out of the building.
"It wasn't long after 1:30, maybe 1:45, and after that
we left the building," said an employee, who identified
himself only as Chris.
Alston said police were also hopeful that witnesses would
provide more information. While there were 200 people inside
the building, not everyone was on the floor where the shooting
occurred.
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