Authorities have apprehended a third individual and pressed charges in connection with the tragic 2022 murder of a 30-year-old man in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension area of Montreal.
Lee Van Smath Germain, aged 35, was taken into custody on July 13 in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, following an extensive police operation. He is set to be extradited to Quebec for a court appearance.
The victim lost his life due to a fatal shooting on May 11, 2022. Reports of gunfire near the intersection of Shelley Avenue and Crémazie Boulevard West prompted multiple 911 calls just before 5 p.m. Montreal police found the man at the scene with gunshot wounds, and he was tragically pronounced dead.
Germain becomes the third individual to face charges related to the homicide. Earlier in January, Pedro Kela, 38, and Nicko Bélisle, 27, were also arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
These arrests are part of Project Alliance, a collaborative investigation aimed at addressing several organized crime-related murders in Montreal and other parts of Quebec. Since June 2025, the initiative has led to a total of twelve arrests.
Individuals who possess any information that could aid the ongoing investigation are encouraged to share it anonymously and confidentially with Info-Crime Montréal at 514-393-1133 or with the Criminal Information Centre at 1-800-659-4264.
