Canadian Hip-Hop Promoter Murdered, Lit on Fire

Police in Montreal, Canada are searching for suspects in the brutal murders of two victims -- two men were reportedly doused with a flammable liquid and then lit on fire Friday night (Nov. 11) inside an apartment building in St. Henri -- one being a recognized concert promoter in the city's established hip-hop community.

According to the Montreal Gazette, While authorities have not confirmed the name of the promoter, media outlets and those close to the victim identified twenty-nine-year-old Matthew "Dutch" Garner Saturday morning (Nov. 12) as one of two men that were murdered.

Garner, who brought global superstars to Montreal as well as lesser known acts to support the local rap scene, was involved in a reported conflict occurring in a third floor apartment, which was reported to police Friday. When cops arrived on the scene, the residence was engulfed in flames.

Sources told The Gazette on Sunday (Nov. 13) that the second victim's name was Einick Gi.

"Matt Dutch Garner was Montreal's biggest promoter of this city's talent and shows," read a statement on the website of Montreal promotional company Long Life Productions. "He opened the doors for the world to see [the] Montreal scene. His life was taken last night and left the city in a state of shock."

Garner was a co-owner of promotional company Escape Entertainment. The company's latest show, featuring Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ghostface Killah, is scheduled for Nov. 27 at Club Soda.

Montreal authorities are asking that anyone with information relating deaths to contact them on their confidential Info-Crime tip line at 514-393-1133.