Montreal (Rajeev Sharma)— In a major breakthrough for national law enforcement, Montreal police apprehended Canada’s most wanted fugitive, 24-year-old Bryan Fuentes Gramajo, during a high-stakes overnight operation on Wednesday. Fuentes Gramajo had been the subject of a nationwide manhunt following a fatal shooting at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre last July. The suspect, who was considered armed and dangerous, was taken into custody without incident at approximately 2:40 a.m. in the Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough.
Mélanie Dupont, head of the Montreal police major crimes unit, confirmed that a specialized SWAT team was deployed for the arrest due to the suspect’s history and the severity of the charges. Fuentes Gramajo appeared in a Montreal courtroom on Thursday to face a charge of first-degree murder and is expected to be transferred to Toronto to face further judicial proceedings on March 10. The arrest ends months of evasion for the individual who was named the top priority by the Bolo Program in October 2025.
The investigation stems from the July 2025 death of 28-year-old Kashif Jamal Bentley-Jean, who was gunned down in the parking lot of the Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Toronto police previously identified Fuentes Gramajo as a suspected member of the Montreal-based gang Zone 43. Superintendent Joe Matthews had earlier warned the public that the suspect posed a serious threat to any community he inhabited, emphasizing that his position at the top of the most-wanted list was a reflection of his perceived danger to society.
While this arrest marks a significant milestone, the investigation into the Yorkdale shooting remains active. A second suspect, 20-year-old Bradley Lucate-Nicolas, was previously apprehended in Laval last August and charged with first-degree murder. However, authorities are still searching for a third individual, 28-year-old Jimmy Prudent of Montreal, who remains at large. Police are urging anyone with information regarding Prudent’s whereabouts to contact their local authorities as they work to close the case on this violent incident.
