Accused in Kirkland shooting to undergo more tests

Five-year-old son, father-in-law shot

A West Island man who was charged after his five-year-old son and father-in-law were shot in a Kirkland home Friday has been ordered detained at the Philippe-Pinel Institute where he is to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Quebec Court Judge Marie-Josée Di Lallo issued the order Monday as the 36-year-old Dollard-desOrmeaux resident made a brief appearance at the Montreal courthouse. The man, who has two sons, is accused of trying to kill both. He faces six charges in all: two counts of attempted murder, two counts of using a firearm to commit a crime, and two counts of aggravated assault — one on his fatherin-law. The name of the accused cannot be published because of a court order intended to protect the identity of the boys. Prosecutor Alexandre Arel requested the psychiatric evaluation following a mental-health evaluation at the Rivière-des-Prairies Detention Centre during the weekend. Arel told the judge the more thorough evaluation is necessary to determine whether the man was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the shootings and whether he could be found criminally responsible if the case goes to trial. The Montreal police were called to the Kirkland home and found that one of the boys and his grandfather had been shot. Both were conscious and able to talk to emergency responders before they were taken to a hospital. According to the charge sheet, the accused does not reside at the address where the shots were fired. The father-in-law was reportedly shot while trying to protect one of his grandsons. Defence lawyer Richard Shadley told Di Lallo that he “totally agrees” with Arel’s request for the evaluation. Outside the courtroom, the defence attorney told reporters that his client “regrets what happened.” “We are not in any way trying to minimize what has happened,” Shadley said. “My client is honestly upset with what happened.” The case returns to court on Dec. 11.