On July 13, 1994, three men walked into a motorcycle shop on Henri-Bourassa Blvd. E. in Rivière-des-Prairies and killed Pierre Daoust.
Daoust, a 34-year-old member of a Hells Angels support club called the Death Riders, was working in his Custom Cycle shop when the three men, whose faces were hidden by masks and a motorcycle helmet, called out to him twice to make sure they had the right guy. They proceeded to pump at least 16 bullets into Daoust, who was taken to a hospital and declared dead hours later.
Daoust’s murder received little media attention, but to many people involved in drug trafficking in Montreal a very clear message had been sent. In the months leading up to Daoust’s death, the Hells Angels issued an ultimatum: With very few exceptions, anyone dealing drugs in Montreal would have to buy from them, or else.
Several leaders of criminal organizations opposed to the ultimatum met weeks before Daoust was killed. They decided to band together and form a group they called the Alliance. The Alliance’s disdain for the Hells Angels’ monopolistic attitude touched off a conflict that continued until 2002 and resulted in the deaths of more than 160 people, including several innocent victims.
The Alliance acted swiftly during the summer of 1994. The day after Daoust was killed, someone tried to kill Normand Robitaille, a member of a Hells Angels support club. He survived the shooting and would go on to become one of the Hells Angels’ most powerful members in Quebec.
