Quebec provincial police say that their criminal investigation into the police shooting of an 18-year-old in Montreal will be public and will establish who was "responsible" for the incident.

Freddy Alberto Villanueva's death sparked riots Sunday in the northern Montreal community where the shooting occurred. He was shot by a Montreal police officer during a confrontation Saturday night.

Anti-racism groups have been calling for a public inquiry into the shooting, amid appeals from the police and government officials for calm in the community.

In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Lt. Francois Dore of the Quebec provincial police said in French, "We trust that we will do this inquiry well."

"The goal of a criminal investigation is to establish responsibility, if there is, of each and every one (involved) -- which is not the goal of a public inquiry," he added in English.

He said that the conclusion of the investigation will be made public and there will be regular communications from the provincial force on the matter.

"The investigation will be complete, will be impartial . . . (it) will be a fair investigation," Dore said in response to a question about political pressure on the case.

He said that more than 30 witnesses have been interviewed so far and police have met with the family of the victim.

"We can feel the confidence between them and us," he said.

Dore said the investigation should be complete in eight to 10 weeks.

New information on officers involved

The fatality occurred when police attempted to arrest an individual at a city park in north Montreal Saturday night. Police said two officers were conducting what appeared to be a routine intervention.

When the officers got out of their vehicle, Montreal police said that they were surrounded by a group of youth, who then rushed the officers.

The officers -- one female, one male -- were both white.

Dore confirmed that four shots were fired by a single officer, one which killed Villaneuva. Two others were injured and are still in hospital.

Both officers are now on sick leave.

He said that neither officer has been questioned by Quebec police yet, which he said was normal for an investigation. But he did say they would be interviewed within a "few days."

Dore refused to give any information on the officers involved, saying that it would "contaminate" the investigation.

Montreal police have dismissed criticism that its officers had other alternatives than to use lethal force.

"The ideology of Hollywood movies is that you can take on eight people with martial arts courses and that everyone can be neutralized just like that -- it's not that easy," Chief Insp. Paul Chablo told CTV Montreal.

Some residents of the community feel the shooting incident erupted amid heightened racial tensions between police and community members in the area, which is troubled with high unemployment, a lack of education and poverty.

Pierreson Vaval, who heads a youth group in the city's north end, told The Canadian Press the community members are in revolt because they don't like the way they are being treated by authorities.

Public inquiry wanted

A public inquiry would allow witnesses to testify, said a spokesperson for the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations.

"The advantage of a public inquiry is that it will look for the motives that feed this hatred of the police system," lawyer Jacky-Eric Salvant told a news conference.

"The other advantage of a public inquiry is that we will be able to analyze the intervention methods of police."

Minister of Public Security, Jacques Depuis, told CTV Montreal that he has met with community groups and leaders, and that he wants people to stop taking violent action to make their point.

"Police (are) doing work that is not easy," Depuis said.

The police wants a good relationship with the community but also has to be able to fight crime, he said.

"They are well-inclined to keep a peaceful atmosphere, to keep an open communication...with the communities, and the population should have confidence in the police department."

One Montreal radio host says many of his callers continued to express anger and resentment at a police force they say has been harassing them for too long.

"This is not only about gang street members, it's about ordinary citizens who live peacefully in Montreal North," Jean Fils-Aime, CPAM radio host told Canada AM Tuesday. "Whenever police see a black man or just see a young man, police will stop him and try to get information from them and arrest them."

With files from CTV Montreal