Suspect Arrested in 2017 Montreal Killing
François Ducakis, 31, was taken into custody in the Philadelphia area on Tuesday on a warrant tied to a 2017 shooting death in Montreal North.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Violence
Montreal police and U.S. Marshals arrested François Ducakis, 31, in the Philadelphia area on Tuesday. He is wanted in connection with the August 29, 2017, fatal shooting of a 31-year-old man in the entryway of an apartment building in Montreal North, and he was taken into custody pending extradition proceedings.
Why it matters
The arrest moves a long-running homicide case toward a retrial, as Ducakis faces first-degree murder charges after a 2020 manslaughter conviction. The case also involves cross-border cooperation between Canadian police and U.S. authorities.
Ducakis was taken into custody pending extradition proceedings after being located in the Philadelphia area. A 2025 Court of Appeals ruling ordered him and co-accused Willy Junior St-Jean to stand trial for first-degree murder, and the retrial date has not been stated.
The players
François Ducakis
A 31-year-old U.S. citizen arrested in the Philadelphia area, who faces a retrial for first-degree murder in a 2017 Montreal North homicide.
Willy Junior St-Jean
A 39-year-old co-accused who, like Ducakis, was convicted of manslaughter in 2020 and ordered in 2025 to stand trial for first-degree murder.
U.S. Marshals
The U.S. federal law enforcement agency that worked alongside Montreal police to locate and arrest Ducakis in Philadelphia.
The details
Two suspects waited for the victim outside his Montreal North apartment building on August 29, 2017, and one fired, fatally wounding him. Ducakis and St-Jean were found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in 2020, and the Court of Appeals later ruled they must face a trial for first-degree murder.
Timeline
August 29, 2017: The victim is fatally shot in the entryway of his Montreal North apartment building.
2020: A jury convicts Ducakis and St-Jean of manslaughter.
2025: The Court of Appeals orders a retrial on first-degree murder charges.
Tuesday, November 2026: Ducakis is located and arrested in the Philadelphia area.
Legal Context
The case reflects how Canadian courts have revisited a 2017 Montreal homicide, moving from a 2020 manslaughter conviction to an appellate order for a first-degree murder retrial. Montreal recorded 16 homicides that year, and this prosecution illustrates how contested charges can extend a case across several years and borders.
Residents of Montreal North and those following violent crime cases in Canada may see this case progress through extradition and a retrial for first-degree murder. The proceedings are a reminder that convictions on lesser charges can be revisited on appeal, which affects how long families of victims wait for a final resolution.
The takeaway
Cases like this show that a conviction can be reopened on appeal, and that suspects can remain at large for years before arrest. Following court dockets and official police releases gives the clearest view of how such cases progress.
Further reading
For related coverage, see the Violence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CTVNews.
