2006 Dawson College shooting

The Shooting and Police Response

The attack began shortly before 12:40 p.m. EDT when Kimveer Gill parked his car near the college on de Maisonneuve Boulevard. Bystanders observed him removing weapons from his trunk, and one called 911. As Gill approached the school, he briefly took a passerby hostage, forcing him to carry a bag containing a shotgun and additional ammunition. Upon seeing a police car outside the college, Gill fired his carbine at students on the rear entrance steps, injuring several before entering the building at 12:42 p.m. Two police officers, who were on site for an unrelated drug matter, witnessed the initial shots and radioed a high-urgency code, initiating a rapid police response.

Gill moved directly into the school's atrium near the cafeteria. He positioned himself near a vending machine, loaded a Glock pistol, and began shooting students, including Anastasia De Sousa. The two initial officers pursued him into the cafeteria but were forced to fall back after Gill fired at them. Throughout the ensuing standoff, Gill took hostages, taunted police, and continued firing at students attempting to flee. Additional officers from multiple units, including the SWAT team, quickly surrounded the campus and entered the floor above the cafeteria.

The confrontation ended at 1:01 p.m. Officer Denis Côté, positioned on the floor above, fired two shots, striking Gill in the right elbow. Gill's carbine was also hit, causing a bruise to his chest. Gill fell to his knees and, six seconds later, placed his Glock pistol in his mouth and shot himself. Police attempted resuscitation but were unsuccessful. Authorities later concluded the attack was premeditated after finding a short suicide note on Gill's body during the autopsy. In total, Gill discharged his rifle 72 times and his pistol six times during the incident.

Victims and Immediate Aftermath

The sole fatality was 18-year-old Dawson student Anastasia Rebecca De Sousa, who was shot nine times and died at the scene. The Montreal Police Service reported that 19 other people were wounded, with eight in critical condition and six requiring surgery. One of the most severely injured was Hayder Kadhim, who was visiting friends and suffered two gunshot wounds to the head. He underwent intensive surgery, spent a week in a coma, and required two weeks on a ventilator before beginning a long recovery. Part of Dawson's Peace Garden was later dedicated to De Sousa's memory.

Following the shooting, police cordoned off the campus and swept the school for remaining students. Approximately 80 police vehicles and 24 ambulances responded to the scene. The adjacent Place Alexis Nihon and Westmount Square shopping centres, as well as the connected Atwater metro station, were evacuated. The Montreal Metro's green line was shut down for several hours. Many evacuees were directed to nearby Concordia University, where the Concordia Student Union cancelled orientation events and provided shelter, food, water, blankets, and phones for Dawson students. A temporary crisis centre was established to offer psychological counselling.

Dawson College remained closed for several days to allow police to process the crime scene. The school held an open house for students and staff on September 18, 2006, and regular classes resumed on September 19. A subsequent study by the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute found that 30 percent of Dawson students present during the shooting suffered mental health consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and alcohol dependence, a rate twice that of the general population. Approximately 18 percent of respondents developed a new mental health disorder as a result of the trauma.

Investigation and Profile of the Perpetrator

Police initially considered the possibility of multiple suspects but quickly confirmed that Kimveer Singh Gill acted alone. Eyewitnesses described a man with a Mohawk hairstyle, wearing a black trench coat and combat boots. Gill was a 25-year-old Canadian, born on July 9, 1981, in Lachine, Quebec, to parents of Punjabi descent. He attended Rosemere High School, where teachers remembered him as quiet and unassuming, and he performed well academically. He briefly enrolled at Vanier College but dropped out in January 1999.

In early 1999, Gill received military training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu for about a month. He told friends he wished to become a mercenary but did not complete his basic training and was voluntarily discharged before receiving extensive weapons training. He was a member of a rifle club and visited the Ville Saint-Pierre facility the day before the shooting. A search of his home in Laval, where he lived with his mother, revealed an apology note to his family, firearm accessories, and a letter praising the actions of Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

Gill's online profile was discovered on the website VampireFreaks under the screen name 'fatality666,' with his last login occurring the morning of the shooting. The profile was later removed. The weapons he used in the attack were a Beretta Cx4 Storm pistol-calibre carbine, a Glock pistol, and a Norinco shotgun. Reports indicated a fourth firearm was in a bag he forced a hostage to carry. Security camera footage from Place Alexis Nihon showed Gill had been staking out the area as early as August 10, 2006, over a month before the attack.

Public and Political Response

Political leaders across Canada expressed shock and sorrow. Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the shootings 'a cowardly and senseless act of violence.' Interim Liberal leader Bill Graham and MP Lucienne Robillard emphasized the need for national compassion. Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe noted the tragedy was inexplicable and suggested a need for the national gun registry. New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton, a Montreal native, said it was a grim reminder of previous school shootings. Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay expressed deep sadness for the victims and their families.

Some student leaders criticized the Dawson College administration's immediate response, suggesting that help from the Concordia University Student Union was crucial for many displaced students. Dawson's director-general, Richard Filion, defended the school's actions, noting staff were in shock and many were on lunch break during the incident. He stated the school's emergency plan was primarily designed for fire safety. In the aftermath, victim Hayder Kadhim publicly challenged Prime Minister Harper to a debate on gun control, highlighting the personal impact of the tragedy and the call for policy change.

The video game community also responded. Danny Ledonne, creator of 'Super Columbine Massacre RPG,' expressed sorrow and clarified his game was not designed to train shooters. Academic Ian Bogost stated that Gill was a disturbed man who clearly needed help he did not receive. Monique Lépine, mother of École Polytechnique shooter Marc Lépine, spoke publicly for the first time in 16 years following the Dawson shooting, adding a poignant voice to the discourse on violence and loss.

Media Controversies

A significant controversy arose from a front-page article by Globe and Mail journalist Jan Wong, published three days after the shooting. In her piece titled 'Get under the desk,' Wong suggested a link between all three major Quebec school shootings and Quebec society's language laws. She argued that the perpetrators, who were of Algerian, Belarusian, and Punjabi descent, were alienated by a society concerned with 'racial purity.' The article provoked widespread condemnation in Quebec and was accused of 'Quebec bashing.' Premier Jean Charest called it a 'disgrace' and a misunderstanding of Quebec values. Prime Minister Stephen Harper labelled it 'prejudiced, absurd, irresponsible and without foundation.' The House of Commons unanimously passed a motion requesting an apology for the column.

In 2007, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council ruled that Vancouver radio station CKNW breached the broadcast code by airing live cellphone calls from students inside Dawson College during the shooting. A complainant argued the broadcasts could have informed the gunman of students' locations. The council stated that modern technology reduced geographic barriers, making such content 'potentially dangerous information.' CKNW was required to broadcast the decision as required, but did not air an apology. This ruling underscored the evolving ethical considerations for media during live, unfolding crises.

Anniversaries and Lasting Impact

The Dawson College community has held commemorations on major anniversaries of the shooting. The ceremony honoured Anastasia De Sousa, with pink prominently displayed as it was her favourite colour. Her mother, Louise De Sousa, reflected on her daughter's life and the family's ongoing grief, wondering about the life her daughter might have led. Survivors, including Hayder Kadhim and Meaghan Hennegan, shared their experiences of trauma and resilience, with Hennegan recalling the surreal and terrifying moments of being among the first shot outside the college.

Richard Filion, the director-general at the time of the shooting, noted the community was in total shock and that no warning signs had been registered to anticipate the attack. He stated that staff and faculty were scattered everywhere around the city, with many out on lunch break when the shooting occurred. The anniversary served as a moment for reflection on how the community responded and healed in the years that followed. In the lead-up to the 20th anniversary, survivors and families published an open letter urging Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc to fulfil federal firearms commitments. This action highlighted the ongoing advocacy for gun control stemming from the tragedy.

The shooting remains a defining event for the Dawson community and for Montreal, a city scarred by multiple school shootings. It reinforced the importance of emergency response protocols, mental health support for trauma victims, and ongoing national debates about firearm regulation. The personal stories of survivors and the memory of Anastasia De Sousa continue to shape discussions on violence prevention and community resilience in Canada. The legacy of the event underscores the long-term psychological impact on those directly affected and the broader societal call for measures to prevent similar tragedies.

Questions about 2006 Dawson College shooting

What happened during the 2006 Dawson College shooting?

On September 13, 2006, 25-year-old Kimveer Singh Gill opened fire outside and inside Dawson College in Montreal. He began shooting at students on the steps outside the de Maisonneuve Boulevard entrance before moving into the school's atrium near the cafeteria. During the attack, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, he killed 18-year-old student Anastasia De Sousa and injured 19 other people. The incident ended when police officer Denis Côté shot Gill in the arm, after which Gill committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth.

Who was the shooter, Kimveer Gill?

Kimveer Singh Gill was a 25-year-old Canadian from Laval, Quebec, born to parents of Punjabi descent. He attended Rosemere High School and was described by teachers as quiet and unassuming. He briefly attended Vanier College and received about a month of military training in early 1999 but was discharged before completing basic training. Prior to the attack, he was a member of a rifle club. An investigation revealed he maintained a profile on the website VampireFreaks under the name 'fatality666' and had written a letter praising the Columbine shooters.

How many people were killed and injured?

The shooting resulted in two fatalities: the perpetrator, Kimveer Gill, and one victim, 18-year-old Dawson student Anastasia De Sousa. De Sousa was shot nine times and died at the scene. The Montreal Police Service confirmed that 19 other people were wounded. Eight of the injured were listed in critical condition, with six requiring surgery. One of the most severely injured victims, Hayder Kadhim, was shot twice in the head and spent a week in a coma.

How did the police respond to the shooting?

The police response was swift. Two officers who happened to be on site for an unrelated matter witnessed the initial shots and immediately radioed a high-urgency code. Officers from multiple units, including the SWAT team, quickly swarmed the scene. The standoff inside the cafeteria lasted until Officer Denis Côté, positioned on the floor above, shot Gill in the right elbow at 1:01 p.m. Gill committed suicide seconds later. The rapid police mobilization is credited with preventing a potentially higher casualty count.

What were the mental health impacts on Dawson College students after the shooting?

A follow up study by the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute found that 30 percent of Dawson students at the time of the shooting suffered mental health consequences. These included post traumatic stress disorder, major depression, alcohol dependence, and social phobia. This level was twice that found in the general population. Approximately 18 percent of respondents developed a mental health disorder despite never having had one before.

What weapons did Kimveer Gill use during the attack?

Kimveer Gill was armed with a Beretta Cx4 Storm pistol caliber carbine and a Glock pistol. There were also reports of a shotgun in a bag that he forced a hostage to bring along. During the shooting, he discharged his rifle 72 times and his pistol six times. Police also seized firearm accessories including holsters and manuals from his home.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.