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Indian-origin man killed in Canada highway shooting
Authorities have launched a homicide probe and are seeking dashcam footage of a pickup truck linked to the shooting.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 18, Mar 2026
- 17:30 EDT
- 19
Representative image / Pexels
A 22-year-old Indian-origin man was shot and killed in a shooting along a highway near Leduc, Alberta, in Canada on March 14.
The victim has been identified by family and friends as Birinder Singh. According to local reports, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the shooting occurred near Township Road 490 on Highway 2, where a white or gray, dirty pickup truck pulled alongside a 2012 Honda Civic at approximately 2:50 p.m.
Also Read: Indian student killed in British Columbia altercation
Moments later, the pickup sped away, and the Civic came to a stop on the roadside, where police determined the driver had been fatally shot.
New details indicate Singh was traveling with two friends when the pickup truck approached and gunfire was opened from the adjacent vehicle, striking him while he was driving. Friends described the shooting as unprovoked and said there was no prior interaction before the attack.
Police have not confirmed a motive and say it remains unclear whether the victim and the suspect were acquainted. The RCMP’s major crimes unit has taken over the investigation and is seeking information about the suspect vehicle.
Authorities have appealed for witnesses, including anyone with dashcam footage from the area at the time of the incident, to come forward.
Singh, originally from Amritsar in Punjab, had moved to Canada about three years ago on a study visa and had recently relocated to Edmonton. He was pursuing opportunities in the construction sector and was described by friends as working toward establishing his own business.
Family members have raised concerns over a possible discriminatory motive, though police have not confirmed any such link and say the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.
In the aftermath, Singh’s brother, Punarmeet Singh, launched a GoFundMe campaign to repatriate his body to India.
“My name is Punarmeet Singh, brother of Birinder Singh. I am raising funds to send my brother body back to India. He got shot in Edmonton on 14 March 2026. Any small donation will help our family in this difficult time,” he wrote.
The killing comes amid a series of recent incidents involving Indian-origin individuals in Canada.
In Saskatchewan, 30-year-old Devinder Singh, a taxi driver from Punjab, was killed on March 13 in North Battleford while waiting to pick up a passenger outside a motel. Reports indicate he was caught in crossfire when a man chasing a woman opened fire. Devinder had been living and working in Canada for four years.
In a separate case in British Columbia, 25-year-old student Gurkirat Singh Manocha died in a group clash at the Charlie Lake boat ramp in Fort St. John on March 13. Originally from Ujjain, India, he was a student at Northern Lights College. The North District Major Crime Unit is investigating the incident and has asked witnesses to come forward.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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