Gunshots in Sainte-Marie: rare direct attack on a member in good standing

The member in good standing of the Hells Angels who would have been the target of a rare direct attack in Sainte-Marie, in Beauce, would control the sale of narcotics in the coveted region of Sept-Îles, which could explain the shootings on Wednesday towards the one about whom little is known at the moment.

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Alexandre Maltais was promoted to member in good standing of the Hells Angels in 2017, according to our information. He is part of the Quebec chapter, but would be responsible for the narcotics market on the North Shore, in the Sept-Îles sector more precisely.

Our Bureau of Investigation revealed this information in March 2024, detailing that dealers in the region had to obtain supplies from Hells. This “agreement” was accompanied by the payment of a 10% royalty according to police documents.

Little information

But beyond these scraps of information, very few details circulate about Maltais. The 44-year-old has no criminal record and is said to be keeping a low profile.

This profile and his status as a member in good standing make the attack on a main artery in broad daylight even more important.

While several events involving firearms have occurred in recent months, the individuals targeted were generally Hells Angels sympathizers or dealers. Maltais would be one of the first members in good standing to be so directly targeted by an attempted murder.

Remember that on Wednesday morning, one or more armed individuals fired from a vehicle towards another car, on Vachon Boulevard, in Sainte-Marie. Machine gun-type weapons abandoned at the scene were recovered on the roadway, but the attackers were not found by the authorities.

Coveted territory

Several violent events have also taken place in recent months on the North Shore, in what would be the territory controlled by Alexandre Maltais.

Without making a direct link to the Hells member, authorities confirmed that several incidents involving shootings or arson were linked to the conflict between criminal groups over royalties.

An arson attack notably claimed one victim last October. The body of Jimmy Maltais, 26, was found in the rubble of a residence in the Moisie sector, in Sept-Îles.

Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the fire, but none have been charged at this time in connection with the victim’s death.

With the collaboration of the Investigation Bureau