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Crime & Justice • Organized Crime

Richard Blass

Richard Blass was a Canadian gangster from Montreal, Quebec, known for violent crimes, prison escapes, and his nickname *Le Chat* (“The Cat”).

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Richard Blass was a Canadian gangster from Montreal, Quebec, known for violent crimes, prison escapes, and his nickname *Le Chat* (“The Cat”). He was widely linked to the 1975 Gargantua bar attack in Montreal, in which 13 people died, and was killed by police days later in Val-David, Quebec. Blass is a significant figure in Canadian criminal history, especially in Quebec and Montreal’s organized-crime history.

Early life

Richard Blass was born in Rosemont, Montreal, in 1945. Available sources identify him as a Canadian criminal who later became active in Montreal’s underworld.

Criminal career

Blass became known for violence, prison escapes, and repeated clashes with rivals and police. Sources describe him as having been suspected of multiple murders and involved in organized-crime disputes.

Gargantua bar attack

Blass is most strongly associated with the 21 January 1975 attack on the Gargantua bar in Montreal. The incident killed 13 people and became one of the best-known crimes linked to his name.

Death

Three days after the Gargantua attack, Blass was killed during a police operation in Val-David, Quebec. Contemporary reporting states he was fatally shot during the raid.

Key facts

  • Richard Blass was born in Montreal in 1945 and became involved in organized crime.
  • He was nicknamed *Le Chat* for surviving multiple assassination attempts and escaping custody.
  • He was linked to the Gargantua bar attack on 21 January 1975, which killed 13 people.
  • Blass was killed by police on 24 January 1975 in Val-David, Quebec.
  • Sources describe him as one of Quebec’s most notorious criminals.
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Canadian context

Richard Blass is a significant figure in Canadian criminal history, especially in Quebec and Montreal’s organized-crime history.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Richard Blass?
Richard Blass was a Canadian gangster from Montreal who became one of Quebec’s most notorious criminals.
What was Richard Blass known for?
He was known for violent organized-crime activity, prison escapes, and his alleged role in the Gargantua bar attack.
What was Richard Blass’s nickname?
His nickname was *Le Chat*, French for “The Cat.”
How did Richard Blass die?
He was shot and killed by police in Val-David, Quebec, on 24 January 1975.
What was the Gargantua bar attack?
It was a 21 January 1975 shooting and arson attack in Montreal that killed 13 people and became closely associated with Blass.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Blass
    Supports: Birth date and place, death date and place, nickname, and summary of criminal notoriety.
  2. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/25/archives/police-kill-suspect-in-canada-slayings.html
    Supports: Contemporary report that Blass was killed by police in Val-David shortly after the nightclub killings.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargantua_bar_attack
    Supports: The Gargantua bar attack, date, death toll, and Blass as the primary suspect.
  4. Service de police de la Ville de Montréal — https://www.spvm.qc.ca/upload/capsules_historiques/2015/Evasion_et_rodeo_rue_Fabre_le_16_octobre_1969.pdf
    Supports: A historical police reference to Richard Blass as 'le Chat' and to his notoriety in Montreal police history.