MONTREAL - As Fredy Villanueva's family laid the 18-year-old to rest Thursday, the gritty neighbourhood where he was shot dead by police still teeters on the brink of violence.
More than 300 mourners gathered in a north-end borough to pay their last respects to Villanueva, whose death sparked a riot last Sunday.
Villanueva was gunned down a day earlier in a park in Montreal North, a multi-ethnic neighbourhood where relations between police and youth have long been frayed.
"Rage, lots of rage," Jonathan Bouffard said before the funeral to describe the feeling in his neighbourhood.
"The whole community is concerned. What happened is disgusting."
Villanueva's death has stirred tensions in the area, which has seen a raft of vandalism since rioters rampaged through town Sunday, looting stores and torching cars.
The 15-year-old Bouffard said he has no doubt there is more violence in store for the neighborhood.
During the mostly Spanish service a pastor called for an end to the violence.
Family members wore T-shirts emblazoned with a photo of a smiling Villanueva eating birthday cake. The words, "Pipo, we will always remember you" were printed in Spanish below the photo.
His mother, Lilian, wept as she stood before his coffin after the service. Her hand shook as it caressed her son's image on her shirt.
Villanueva's family released doves and white balloons outside the funeral home.
A cortege then escorted Villanueva's coffin to a cemetery in Laval, north of Montreal.
City police claim two officers were trying to arrest an individual in Henri Bourassa Park Saturday when they were surrounded by a group of about 20 youths.
Officers opened fire, hitting Villanueva, along with an 18-and a 20-year-old. Both are expected to recover from their injuries.
Witnesses say there were only five or six youths and that Villanueva only charged police when they became aggressive with his brother, Dany.
Dany Villanueva, 20, was arrested and later released by police.
Provincial police are investigating the shooting, but many locals are calling for a public inquiry. They say the police family is too tight for officers to objectively investigate their counterparts.
"The family, they have questions and they want answers and no one is doing nothing about that," said Karla Salinas, 23, a family friend, before she headed inside for the funeral.
"They don't feel the mother's pain, they don't feel what we're feeling."
Despite rumblings of more violence, a Villanueva family spokesman said tensions would likely ease in the days to come.
"The family continues to issue calls for peace," said Victor Henriquez. "It's a message that's being respected by youngsters."
Henriquez said several hundred people attended a peaceful vigil Wednesday night in the park where Villanueva was shot.
