Another innocent victim was targeted last Friday (14/02/2024) afternoon, due to the ongoing drug war, making it a bloody Valentine’s Day in Beauport, a borough of Quebec City located towards the northeast. Let’s clear the air and state that this is not the first time an innocent victim has been targeted since the drug war had started, but the fourth. Etienne Briere, the 62-year-old victim had been shot in an onslaught of bullets last Friday. He had unfortunately succumbed to his wounds.
The Call
A slew of police cars and only one ambulance is a grisly sight to see in a residential neighborhood. It hints at the fact that a crime has just occurred, making neighbors wonder. This was the scene bystanders saw on Friday (14/02/2025) afternoon. First responders attempted CPR on a man last Friday after receiving a call towards 2:15pm. They rushed him to the nearest hospital afterwards where he was deemed dead upon his arrival. The crime happened on Boulevard des Chutes, in Beauport. 62-year-old retired Etienne Briere had been shot.
Soon after authorities arrived on the scene of the crime, they quickly gained a description of a suspect vehicle; a white SUV. This description was then broadcasted on local radio. A move which would have the suspects in the SPVQ’s hands in only a matter of minutes. Police would later apprehend the suspect vehicle on Autoroute Henri-IV South the very same day.
The Suspects
The three occupants of the SUV spanned from the ages of 18 all the way to 40, strangers to Quebec City and its surrounding areas. A ‘deja vu’ fact that seems to recur throughout this strife. Among the occupants arrested were 18-year-old Nathan Tshimanga and 31-year-old Mathieu Quinio. Another 40-year-old suspect was released with a promise to appear in court.
Tshimanga had recently turned 18-years-old, although racking up charges in the past, this is first charge as an adult. Tshimanga is a resident of Mercier, a town located near Chateauguay. Passing in court the day after the crime had been committed. He was proposed a hefty sentence; life without possibility of parole until 25 years had been served.
Mathieu Quinio, the 31-year-old arrested, was a regular to the steel bars, who ended up well acquainted with the law, with more than a dozen accusations brought upon him. Quinio is a resident of the Montreal south shore adobe; Brossard. Being on probation, he has previously faced charges such as breaking his parole conditions, a robbery and being caught with a firearm in his car. His biggest charge dates back to 2018 where he was found guilty of a break and entry in a residential sector.
Mathieu Quinio’s Past Charges
The B&E that Quinio took part in had occurred on March 25th of 2017 (convicted in 2018), a Saturday night in Valleyfield. The victim was 87-year-old Donald Racicot. Beaten by three B&E artists towards 9:30pm, Racicot believes the intruders targeted him due to his generous offerings to different charities or his passion for helping the less fortunate. Handing out free turkeys to single mothers during holiday time and doing other things in that nature. Quinio was one of the three intruders.
That night, Racicot was minding his own business, getting ready to have supper until he was randomly clubbed in the face by a nightstick. He was surrounded by intruders who barked “where’s the safe?” at him multiple times. He explained the fact in which he never owned a safe and was met with supplementary violence; the intruders started hitting the man in the face multiple times.
After beating the 87-year-old man around enough to realize he genuinely had nothing in his possession, the three intruders started looking around, trying to find anything of value. They spotted two rifles which they had taken, leaving the building nearly 20 minutes later, fleeing in a car. They were apprehended later throughout that 2017 night and the third suspect was apprehended the very next day. He was sentenced to 4 and a half years. Quinio was 24 at the time.
Quinio’s most recent charge dates back to the 27th of October, 2023. He was caught with a firearm in Joliette, along with two other individuals from Rawdon. They were also charged with both possession and possession with the intent to distribute cannabis. He was also charged with theft under 5000$ after having stolen from the shelves of a supermarket on Boulevard Firestone. A well-devised scheme which had a vehicle waiting at the entrance in hopes of making a clean get-away.
The Victim
TVA News reports the intended target was a member of the Blood Family Mafia. Briere had no ties to the ongoing drug war, or either side of the strife. Yes, the man had a criminal record, but not a violent one, nor one that would have to do with organized crime. Jean-Francois Dion was the original intended target. The Blood Family Mafia member had moved out of the very same residence Etienne Briere was murdered in, only 4 months ago.
The question remains; will this become a long-lasting strife? Claiming hundreds of lives? Possibly worse than the Quebec Biker War? Lasting nearly 8 years. Local media is not afraid to state the facts and throw the idea in the air. The fact remains, we won’t know until it’s over, done and finito. The violence and aftermath of this war so far, has been very ‘messy’, to say the least.
