Canada witnessed the tragic death of a second Indian-origin youth within a week as 20-year-old Harshandeep Singh, working as a security guard, was shot dead in Edmonton on Friday. The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has arrested two individuals, Evan Rain and Judith Saulteaux, both 30, and charged them with first-degree murder.
The Incident
The fatal shooting occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. inside an apartment building on 107 Avenue. Responding to reports of gunfire, officers found Singh unresponsive in a stairwell. Despite immediate first aid and subsequent transportation to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.
CCTV footage circulating online shows a harrowing scene where a member of a three-person gang pushed Singh down a stairwell while another shot him from behind. A weapon has since been recovered by police, and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
EPS Homicide Staff Sgt. Rob Bilawey stated, “The EPS doesn’t typically release the name of a deceased individual unless the death has been confirmed to be a homicide. However, in this instance, we are releasing his name for an investigative purpose and to alleviate public safety concerns.”
Second Tragic Death
This incident follows the stabbing death of another Indian-origin man, 22-year-old Gurasis Singh, earlier on December 1 in Sarnia, Ontario. Gurasis, a first-year business management student at Lambton College, was killed by his housemate, 36-year-old Crossley Hunter, during an argument.
Sarnia Police reported receiving a call at 4:59 a.m. regarding a stabbing incident. Investigations revealed that an altercation in the kitchen escalated when Hunter picked up a knife and stabbed Gurasis multiple times. Hunter has been charged with second-degree murder.
Community Concerns
The deaths of Harshandeep Singh and Gurasis Singh have sent shockwaves through the Indian-origin community in Canada, sparking concerns over safety. Advocacy groups and local leaders are calling for measures to ensure the protection of international students and workers.
As investigations into both incidents continue, these tragedies underscore the challenges faced by Indian-origin residents and workers in Canada, calling for reflection on the broader issues of violence and safety.
Sources By Agencies
