Canada’s Indian-origin community is reeling after two violent deaths in the span of a week. Harshandeep Singh, a 20-year-old security guard, was shot and killed by a gang in Edmonton early Friday morning. This follows the December 1 stabbing death of Gurasis Singh, a 22-year-old student in Ontario.
The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) responded to a gunshot report at an apartment building on 107 Avenue around 12:30 a.m. Friday. Officers found Harshandeep Singh unresponsive in a stairwell and performed first aid, but he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
CCTV footage of the incident shows a gang member pushing Singh down the stairs before another shot him from behind. Two suspects, Evan Rain and Judith Saulteaux, both 30, have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Police recovered a weapon at the scene, and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
EPS Homicide Staff Sgt. Rob Bilawey confirmed the release of Singh’s name to support investigative efforts and address public safety concerns.
Earlier in the week, Gurasis Singh, a first-year business management student at Lambton College, was fatally stabbed in Sarnia, Ontario. Police reported that a kitchen altercation with his housemate, 36-year-old Crossley Hunter, led to the attack. Hunter has been charged with second-degree murder.
These back-to-back tragedies have heightened concerns about the safety of immigrants and young professionals within Canada, casting a spotlight on violence impacting the Indian-origin community.