Laval Mr. Puffs shop that denied links to gang leader hit by gunfire overnight

A Mr. Puffs in Laval was shot at, but no one was injured (photo: Pedro Querido / CTV News)

Laval police are investigating a series of shootings at local cafes and restaurants in the last two days, including one that has had to publicly distance itself from the recent killing of an organized crime figure.

Shortly after midnight, police were called to the Mr. Puffs on Notre-Dame Boulevard in the city’s Chomedey district after it was hit by gunfire. The dessert shop was closed at the time of the shooting, and nobody was injured, according to Laval police spokesperson Nicolas Mongeau.

The franchise released a statement on Oct. 2 following a media report that alleged Charalambos Theologou, who was known as Bobby the Greek, used Mr. Puffs as his headquarters before he was shot dead inside a nearby Starbucks on Oct. 1. Theologou was said to be a well-known organized crime contract broker, organizing contracts for extortion, fire bombings, shootings or killings.

“The article published suggests that an individual known to police had been associated with criminal activity and had ‘established a headquarters’ within one of our Laval restaurants,” the company said. “Mr. Puffs categorically denies any business, financial, or operational ties to this individual or to any criminal organizations.”

Laval police would not confirm or deny whether the shop had links to Theologou. They say their investigation into the shooting is ongoing and that organized crime investigators are involved.

Mr. Puffs, which has more than 50 locations across Quebec, is known for their traditional Greek-style fried dough balls called Loukoumades. The company said in its statement that it had no knowledge of the alleged activities in the shop.

“We are deeply troubled by the implications and wish to reassure the public that Mr. Puffs had no involvement in these matters,” the company added.

Two other cafes were recently hit by gunfire in the last 48 hours: the Dolce Vita resto-bar on Saint-Martin Boulevard East in the city’s Duvernay district and Cafe Bar Azzuri, which is about six kilometres away on Laurentides Boulevard.

Mongeau said both places were closed when they were shot at.

The recent series of shootings comes as Laval police are trying to crack down on incidents of extortion, gunfire, and arson attacks targeting commercial businesses. They launched Project Vigilance this week, an operation aimed at assuring business owners that they can come forward with information about violent acts and at boosting their presence and interventions.

Liberal MNA Jennifer Maccarone, who is also the party’s public security critic, has called for a parliamentary committee to find solutions to what she describes as the “grip” organized crime has over Quebec bars and restaurants.