Party leader Pauline Marois was partway through her victory speech at the Métropolis in downtown Montreal when Richard Henry Bain, in an attempt to assassinate her and "kill as many separatists as possible", approached the building and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, killing one stage technician and severely injuring another.

[2][3] After his rifle jammed, Bain lit a fire in the back of the building and was quickly tackled and apprehended by Montreal police.

[5] Bain, wearing a blue bathrobe and black balaclava approached the back door of the Métropolis theatre with a 9mm CZ 75 semi-automatic pistol[6][7] and a Česká Zbrojovka-858 semiautomatic rifle.

Marois was whisked away from the stage without harm by her bodyguards, and the suspect was apprehended and arrested, shortly after he had started a fire at the back entrance of the building.

"[14] Although in 2012 it was reported the shooter used a Molotov cocktail,[15] it was later alleged Bain poured gasoline on a door and ignited it with a road flare.

[17][21][22] Police searched Bain's vehicle and found a 9mm Beretta pistol, a .357 Magnum revolver, a .22-calibre semi-automatic rifle, lighter fluid and gas canisters that could have been used for the fire.

[32] Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that he was 'shocked and saddened' by the shooting, and that "such violence has no place in Canada".