Organized crime figure Charalambos Theologou, a Canadian of Greek descent known as “Bobby the Greek,” was shot and killed in a Montreal shooting which took place inside a Starbucks in Laval, Quebec on Wednesday. An undercover Quebec provincial police officer was inside the cafe following him.
Two people injured in the attack were members of Theologou’s gang, the Chomedey Greeks, local Radio-Canada reported. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ), which is the national police force of Quebec, is not confirming details due to the ongoing investigation.
What happened during the Montreal shooting ahead of Bobby the Greek’s death?
At least five cars, including an operations supervisor, were deployed to monitor the movements of Theologou after he left his house that morning. About ten police officers were observing him when the gunmen struck.
Surveillance footage from inside the cafe shows the incident unfolding in roughly fifteen seconds. Two suspects entered quickly, opened fire on Theologou and the two people with him, and then very swiftly fled.
Police analysis of the images suggests the assailants may have used Glock 18-type handguns modified to fire automatically and fitted with high-capacity magazines, local media from Quebec reported. Exterior cameras indicated the two suspects arrived at the location around ten minutes before “Bobby the Greek,” allowing investigators to reconstruct the sequence.
Sources told Radio-Canada the pair likely had assistance coordinating their actions, pointing to a carefully orchestrated hit that had been planned in advance. Police reportedly encountered a third suspect believed to have been scouting the area.
What the Quebec police know so far
So far, only the suspected getaway vehicle has been recovered. It was found burned in the Rivière-des-Prairies neighbourhood in Montreal’s east end the night after the shooting. No arrests have been made or announced thus far.
Radio-Canada also reported that police had suspected Theologou for months of orchestrating a majority of extortion cases under investigation by Laval police, targeting bars, restaurants and other local businesses in a clear mafia-like operation. He was considered a broker for several criminal groups seeking contract executors, too.
Who was Theologou, known as ”Bobby the Greek”?
“Bobby the Greek” has been described as a major player in the criminal landscape of the Montreal suburbs, allegedly providing work to young offenders through mobile apps. Contracts and payments to commit crimes were offered in private groups on apps such as Snapchat and Telegram, local media have reported.
In a Thursday appearance on the Radio-Canada program Tout un matin, Laval police Chief Pierre Brochet said the murder investigation was progressing well, but he refused to provide further details on the manhunt. Authorities have not publicly discussed suspects by name or provided a motive.
The killing of the organized crime figure inside a busy coffee shop in Laval, just north of Montreal, caught the authorities by surprise, as they continue to analyze video and other evidence while appealing for information from the public.
Related: Notorious Greek-American Mafia Boss Spyros Velentzas Dies in Prison
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