Montreal murder clearance rate remains above the average

Montreal police commander Mélanie Dupont speaks about why the murder clearance rate is improving and the little things that help the case being solved.

The Montreal police (SPVM) are set for another above-average clearance rate for homicides in 2026 much like it did in 2025.

At 81 per cent, the clearance rate last year was well above the average rate, which Major Crimes Unit Commander Mélanie Dupont said is around 65 per cent for the past decade.

• These five 2025 Montreal murders are unsolved with no arrests

In 2026, just two of the 10 homicides have not been solved, meaning the clearance rate is currently at the same level as it was a year ago.

Here are the two open cases:

Shot in LaSalle

On Feb. 25, a 25-year-old man was shot and killed on Broadway Street and 7th Avenue in LaSalle.

It was the second homicide of the year. Authorities said that the victim was known to police.

Park shooting

On June 3, a 22-year-old man was shot and killed in Turin park on Castelnau Street east and Lanaudière Street.

He was the 10th of 10 homicides this year.

‘No magic formula’

Though the clearance rate has improved, Dupont pointed out that a single event, such as the Old Montreal arson case in 2024, where seven people died, can change the numbers quickly.

“There’s no magic formula,” she said. “It’s the dedication of our investigators, the quality of our forensic work and strong collaboration around a lot of specialized units.”

She said, the first moments are the most important. If witnesses collaborate, investigators can piece together the puzzle along with video footage, forensic evidence and other elements.

The Quebec Provincial Police (SQ) said that most of the unsolved murders or “cold cases” in the province are connected to organized crime.

Dupont said that it’s about having strong proof to arrest a suspect.

“We work really hard on it, but it’s still the most difficult because sometimes it’s the evidence, sometimes the technology is not good,” she said. “It could be witnesses are reluctant to come forward, the evidence is limited, so it’s hard to identify a suspect, and we need proof to accuse them.”

She said that investigators are always working on unsolved cases, and that her team never abandons a case due to lack of evidence or other reason.

“We never forget, and I want to solve every case,” she said. “My unit wants to bring answers to all the family.”

She said any piece of information, no matter how inconsequential a witness may think it is, could break a case open.

“Every detail is important, so even the people that say, ‘Ah, I don’t think it’s important,’ just call us, and we’re going to analyze the big picture,” she said. “Maybe it was the key we missed.”

Evidence matters

The SPVM said 2026 thus far is an exceptional year due to the speed with which homicides have been solved.

Dupond said clearance rates in other major cities, such as Toronto, are also on the rise.

The rate depends on the following factors:

• The case’s complexity
• Surveillance camera presence
• Cellphone video evidence
• Witnesses and whether they cooperate
• Quantity and quality of evidence

There are around 800 unsolved murders at the SPVM. Roughly 600 of those date from before 2000.