EDMONTON, Canada — The families of two Punjabi students shot dead in Canada say they believe the killings may have been a case of mistaken identity, as police have yet to identify a motive for the attack.
Gurdeep Singh, 27, and Ranvir Singh, 19, were killed early Friday after gunmen opened fire on the car they had just entered outside a residence in Edmonton, relatives said. The two had attended a friend’s birthday party shortly before the shooting.
“The car was not theirs. We believe the attackers may have been targeting someone else,” said Mandeep Singh, Ranvir’s uncle. “Ranvir never had any enmity or even a minor dispute with anyone.”
Family members said the assailants arrived in another vehicle, fired multiple shots and fled immediately. Ranvir, who was seated in the driver’s seat, was struck by a bullet, while Gurdeep, sitting beside him, appeared to have been injured by shrapnel.
Police have not publicly confirmed the motive or whether the victims were known to the suspects.
Gurdeep, a resident of Barre village in Punjab, had moved to Canada more than two years ago and was awaiting approval of his work permit, relatives said. Ranvir, from Uddat Saidewala village in Punjab’s Mansa district, had been in Canada for about 18 months pursuing higher studies.
The families said they were informed of the deaths by friends shortly after the incident.
“We are in shock. There was no reason for this to happen,” Mandeep Singh said. “Our only hope is that the truth comes out.”
