One of the three people being sought by Montreal police after the stabbing death of 17-year-old gas-station clerk Brigitte Serre has come forward to talk to investigators.

Joël Nantais, 18, had no comment for television reporters as he arrived at an east-end police station about 10 a.m. on Friday.

His lawyer, Brigitte Martin, said Nantais was in shock and intends to co-operate with police.

Joël Nantais being questioned by police.
Joël Nantais being questioned by police.

Investigators are still looking for Sébastien Simon, 18, a former employee who knew Serre. They believe he was at the gas station the night of the murder and have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Simon has shaved, blonde hair and blue eyes, and has the words "thug life" tattooed on his hands.

Sergio Moniz, 27, is also wanted for questioning in the case, police say.

Customer served by two men

On Thursday, a customer of the Shell gas station told police he bought cigarettes on Wednesday morning between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m., before Serre's body was discovered.

Two men wearing Shell uniforms accepted his money, said Olivier Lapointe of Montreal police.

The young man who served him seemed comfortable working at the station, the customer said. The clerk knew how to use the security window's microphone and cash register, and easily found the type of cigarettes the customer wanted.

There was no sign of Serre, who was supposed to have been working alone at that time, and the customer noticed nothing unusual, Lapointe said.

Serre's body was found more than two hours later in a bathroom at the back of the gas station.

Suveillance tapes missing

Investigators were hoping surveillance cameras at the station would give them vital information. But the tapes from the security system had disappeared.

"There's a possibility that the suspect left with them," police spokesman Benoit Couture said Thursday.

Shell managers have said the door is supposed to stay locked all night. Customers are required to either pay for their gas at the pump, using a credit or debit card, or hand the money through the security window of the store.

The clerk can push an access button for any customer who wants to enter the store.

Victim's sister let police in

In an interview, the mother of the victim, Anna Reppele, said her daughter was filling in for another employee on the night she died.

Reppele's other daughter worked at the same gas station.

Reppele told the TVA network that her elder daughter was just arriving to relieve her sister from the night shift when she saw police officers at the door, trying to get in. A customer who suspected something was wrong had called 911.

The elder daughter had a key, and unlocked the door for police. Inside, the officers found Brigitte Serre's body.