SRINAGAR: Two Punjabi students were shot dead in a suspected targeted attack in Edmonton, Canada, police said, triggering shock and grief in their families and home villages in Punjab.
The victims were identified as Gurdeep Singh, 27, from Bareh village, and Ranveer Singh, 18, of Uddat Saidewala village in Budhlada subdivision of Mansa district. Both had travelled to Canada at different times to pursue higher education. Gurdeep had completed his studies and was awaiting a work permit at the time of the incident, the Edmonton Journal reported.
According to the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), officers responded to reports of gunfire near 32 Street and 26 Avenue in southeast Edmonton at around 1.43 am. On arrival, police found two men with gunshot wounds and attempted life-saving measures until emergency medical services reached the scene. Both victims were pronounced dead there.
Police said the deaths are being treated as suspicious, and homicide detectives have taken over the investigation. Authorities believe the shooting was a targeted incident, though no suspects have been identified or arrested so far, the Edmonton Journal said.
Family members told investigators that the two students were on their way to meet friends at a party when they were shot. Autopsies have been scheduled for next week to determine the exact cause of death.
As part of the investigation, police are seeking information about a dark-coloured SUV believed to have been in the area around the time of the shooting. Residents and motorists have also been urged to share any dashcam or security camera footage from nearby streets.
“We are looking for a dark-coloured SUV that may have been in the area at the time of the shooting,” police said in a statement, as reported by local Canada-based media outlets.
