Concordia Student Murdered
‘[Victim] Always Willing to Give a Helping Hand’: Family Friend
Montreal’s first homicide of the year claimed a victim few would suspect of being involved in foul play.
Jason Peagram, a 22-year-old student at Concordia’s John Molson School of Business, was shot to death in the notoriously quiet Montreal neighbourhood of Westmount on Wednesday night.
Police are saying that Peagram was heard arguing with another man in his apartment on 335 Clarke Ave., north of de Maisonneuve Blvd. The two exited the building around 10:45 p.m., at which point Peagram’s assailant shot him.
Peagram was found slumped over the hood of a car bleeding profusely. He was rushed to Montreal’s General Hospital where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the neck. Witnesses told police they saw the shooter flee in a car, but no description was made available.
On Friday, police said they were looking for Peagram’s roommate for questioning. They have yet to identify a suspect in the shooting.
A memorial website has since appeared on the Internet, with former classmates and teachers sharing their memories of Peagram. One family friend wrote the victim “had the biggest heart and was always willing to give a helping hand.”
Neighbours described Peagram as being a quiet and unassuming individual. He was a graduate of Lower Canada College. A spokeswoman for the private school said that Peagram was an outgoing student. He was also well known for playing on the school’s football and rugby teams, as well as for taking part in its community outreach program.
Concordia officials have refused to comment, and the Peagram family could not be reached as of press time.
This article originally appeared in Volume 31, Issue 19, published January 18, 2011.
