MARCH 14 UPDATE:
A grey 2022 Ford F-150 driven by the suspect has been recovered. RCMP are still asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or have dashcam footage of the area around the time of the incident, to come forward. Call 310-RCMP (7267) with any information.
BIRINDER Singh, 22, was shot dead on Saturday, March 14, at approximately 2:50 p.m., while driving with friends on Highway 2 near Township Road 490 near Edmonton.
RCMP said that a white or grey pickup truck was witnessed pulling up besides a black 2012 Honda Civic. Shortly after, the truck sped off while the Honda Civic pulled over to the side of the road. The investigation revealed a weapon was discharged towards the Honda Civic, resulting in the death of the driver.
The Alberta RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit is seeking the public’s assistance in this investigation. If anyone witnessed the incident, or may have dashcam footage, contact the Leduc RCMP at 780-980-7267. To report anonymously to Crime Stoppers, call 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), report it online at http://P3Tips.com, or use the “P3 Tips” app.
According to reports in South Asian media, the pickup truck carrying two white males approached the Honda Civic. The two men waved at the people in the Honda Civic, who waved back. The pickup truck then moved behind the vehicle and someone opened fire at the vehicle before fleeing.
Two childhood friends of Birinder Singh told Global News that they were driving to Banff when the shooting occurred. They said a bullet pierced Birinder Singh’s neck and he gestured to them that he had been shot. They managed to take over the wheel and bring the car to a stop and call 911.
They said that Birinder Singh came to Canada three years ago and had moved to Edmonton last October. He was studying business administration and also working.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada is calling on the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit to investigate this killing as a potential hate-motivated crime.
Punarmeet Singh, who says he’s the victim’s brother, has set up a GoFundMe to bring his brother’s body to India. By Tuesday afternoon, it had already raised more than $25,000 of its goal of $19,000. Donations had been paused.
