A coroner's inquiry into the police shooting of a Montreal teenager was put on hold Monday after nine of the 15 interested parties failed to show up at court.

Fredy Villanueva, 18, was killed last August in a north-end neighbourhood of Montreal while officers were attempting to arrest his older brother Dany.

CTV Montreal's Stephane Giroux said two of the men shot by police in the same incident were among those who did not attend.

"Their excuse was that they could not afford a lawyer," Giroux said.

Although Villanueva's brother was present, his mother did not attend, citing medical reasons.

Coroner Robert Sansfacon said Monday in court that the inquiry could not begin because it was unclear whether the two men who were shot and Villanueva's mother still wanted intervener status.

Meanwhile, several human rights groups have boycotted the inquest, saying its focus was too narrow.

They are unhappy that the inquiry will not look at other issues such as racial profiling, police accountability and youth poverty.

Giroux said the proceedings were put on hold until the afternoon so that Sansfacon could sort out how to best move forward.

Details of incident

Montreal police reported officers were trying to arrest Villanueva's brother when they were surrounded by a group of youths.

A prosecutor, who examined the report filed by provincial police, said the officer who shot Villanueva acted to save himself and his partner when they were set upon by some of the youths.

Officers Stephanie Pilotte and Jean-Loup Lapointe had originally approached the group because they had spotted them playing dice in a public place in violation of a municipal bylaw.

The investigation concluded that Dany Villanueva, the brother of the dead teen, initially refused to identify himself and resisted violently when police tried to arrest him.

Four witnesses said Villanueva reacted aggressively to police.

Police also said members of the group kicked a female police officer as the officers tried to subdue him.

Lapointe felt hands grabbing him around his body and close to his gun and pepper spray. He fired four times, hitting Fredy Villanueva twice and wounding two other members of the group.

Rioting and looting ensued throughout the neighbourhood on the night after Villanueva's death.

Images and photos of police officers Pilotte and Lapointe have been order to remain under a publication ban after Sansfacon said threats had been made against the officers.

After the shooting last August and the riot that followed, the Villanueva family filed a $990,000 civil suit against the police and the City of Montreal.

The inquiry was called after prosecutors announced that the officer who shot Villanueva would not be charged. They concluded he acted with justified force.

Meas and Metellus also filed a suit for $810,000.