Gilberto and Lilian Villanueva led a march Sunday in memory of their son, Fredy Villanueva, on the first anniversary of his shooting death in Montreal. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)About 500 people gathered for a peaceful vigil and march on Sunday to commemorate the police shooting death of a Montreal teenager that sparked a night of rioting in a north-end neighbourhood last year.

The march went through Montreal North before stopping by the Henri-Bourassa park where 18-year-old Fredy Villanueva was shot Aug. 9, 2008, after police confronted him and his friends, who were playing dice.

Two other youths were wounded in the same incident but survived.

The incident sparked an overnight riot that left businesses and public property destroyed and exposed tense relations between the borough’s multicultural population and police.

Fredy Villanueva, 18, was killed by Montreal police on Aug. 9, 2008. (Canadian Press)Several events were held over the weekend to mark the first anniversary, including a two-day social forum, a Saturday concert called Hoodstock and the vigil at the spot where Villanueva was shot.

On Saturday, a series of workshops were also held without incident.

Community activist Will Prosper said relations between police and local youths are still tense in the low-income neighbourhood, and police were on alert during the events organized by the citizens group Montréal Nord Républik.

Prosper, a spokesman for the Villanueva family, said last week he hoped the events would ease some of the tension between the community and police.

With files from The Canadian Press