On this day May 8, 1984, Corporal Denis Lortie of the Canadian Armed Forces entered the Quebec National Assembly building in Quebec City and opened fire, killing three people and wounding thirteen others. The attack occurred before the day's session had begun, sparing the lives of many members of the provincial legislature.
Lortie, armed with multiple weapons, claimed he was acting on behalf of God and believed the provincial government was ruining Quebec. His rampage was stopped by René Jalbert, a retired military officer and the Assembly’s sergeant-at-arms, who bravely negotiated with Lortie for hours and convinced him to surrender.
Fun fact: René Jalbert was later awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada’s highest civilian honor for bravery, for his calm and courageous actions that prevented further loss of life.
Lortie, armed with multiple weapons, claimed he was acting on behalf of God and believed the provincial government was ruining Quebec. His rampage was stopped by René Jalbert, a retired military officer and the Assembly’s sergeant-at-arms, who bravely negotiated with Lortie for hours and convinced him to surrender.
Fun fact: René Jalbert was later awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada’s highest civilian honor for bravery, for his calm and courageous actions that prevented further loss of life.
