Brother of Notorious Crime Boss Fatally Shot Outside Family Gathering in Montreal

The brother of the infamous crime leader Jean-Philippe Célestin, identified as Jean Brandon, was tragically gunned down outside a family event held in a pizzeria on Bellechasse street in Montreal. The incident occurred as he made his way towards his luxury car and was met with a barrage of gunfire. This information was obtained by Radio-Canada.

Multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots were made around 12:15 AM on Saturday near the intersection of Bellechasse and Saint-Denis streets. Sources from the police revealed that members of the Célestin family hurriedly left upon learning of the 28-year-old victim’s shooting.

Emergency services attended to the scene swiftly, finding the victim’s mother and partner requiring medical attention due to the tragic circumstances. The perpetrators, who patiently awaited their target in the restaurant’s parking lot, remain at large as police intensify their search for suspects.

This incident marks the 6th homicide in Montreal this year and is interpreted by law enforcement investigating organized crime as a strong message from the rivals of the Celestin family.

At the time of the attack, Jean Brandon Célestin, though not a prominent figure in criminal activities, was following in his brother Jean-Philippe’s footsteps, closely associated with the deceased gang leader, Grégory Woolley.

Family members of the Celestin clan reportedly declined to cooperate with SPVM investigators following the tragedy. Consequently, police sources anticipate retaliation from Jean-Philippe in response to his younger brother’s murder, particularly given the familial context of the incident.

Meanwhile, a week prior in Laval, an assassination attempt was made against Ali Chaban, a member of a rival street gang faction, prompting ongoing detective work to ascertain any direct correlation linking these events.

With the year’s 6th homicide heightening tensions, law enforcement is bracing for potential escalations in armed violence within the organized crime sphere in Montreal in the coming months.

The report is complemented with inputs from La Presse canadienne.