THE Indian couple, Jagtar Singh Sidhu, 57, and Harbhajan Kaur Sidhu, 55, who were staying at their children’s rental property along the Caledon-Brampton border in Ontario province when they were fatally shot on November 20 were victims of mistaken identity in a series of linked shootings, police said on Thursday.

While Jagtar died on the spot, Harbhajan succumbed to injuries in hospital, and their daughter Jaspreet Kaur Sidhu is still recovering from her injuries. Their son Gurdit was not home when the shooting took place.

Peel Regional Police (PRP) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shared information with the media on the joint investigation of a series of residential shootings and homicides which are believed to be related.

Police said that Caledon OPP Detachment members are investigating a shooting incident that they believe involved multiple individuals on Mayfield Road in the Town of Caledon on November 20.  This shooting resulted in the death of two individuals and serious injuries for a third victim.

In relation to the November 20 incident, the possible suspect was seen entering an alleged stolen truck, a black Dodge RAM 2500 pick-up truck, which travelled westbound on Mayfield Road. The same truck was involved in a vehicle fire on Olde Baseline Road and Creditview Road in the Town of Caledon.

This alleged stolen truck was taken on November 14, 2023, in the area of Mississauga Valley Boulevard and Arista Way in the City of Mississauga. Investigators are asking for assistance in identifying a person of interest in relation to the theft of that vehicle.

Police said that although they believe that all the shootings were targeted, the victims in the homicides were not the intended targets.

Police said that there were no reports of any injuries following these three residential shooting incidents on November 7, November 11 and November 14 in Brampton, on November 15, there was a homicide victim — Jagraj Singh, 29, of Brampton — in the area of Royal Windsor Drive and Winston Churchill Boulevard in the City of Mississauga.

Investigators are urging anyone with information about any these incidents to call the dedicated tip line at 1-833-941-5570. Anonymous tips can be shared by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

INCIDENTALLY, the Toronto Star had reported that the home’s address had previously been cited by the Town of Caledon as the site of an illegal trucking operation.

There was speculation that the incident might have had something to do with the business, which was shut down last year.
However, the Indian couple’s children, Jaspreet and Gurdit, had asserted that the family had nothing to do with that.

They told the Star that the Peel police officers did not warn them of any kind of threat.

They said: “We were renting the place. We could have left it right away.”

A Peel police spokesperson had said the homicide team was there on November 16 for a “separate and ongoing investigation” but did not provide more details.