Sikh man shot dead, cousin injured in Canada

Dhaliwal was pronounced dead shortly after arriving in hospital and his cousin is in hospital receiving treatment, a report said.

Photo: Representational/ AFP

Toronto: A 19-year-old Sikh man was shot dead outside his home and his cousin was injured by unidentified persons in an apparent targeted shooting in Canada, police said. Gagandeep Singh Dhaliwal, who was known to local police but had no criminal records, got home on Sunday with his family following a wedding reception. He then went to the garage to hang out with his cousin, and it was at that time when the shooting started, his family was quoted as saying by the Global News. The Abbotsford Police Department said officers responded to a report of shots fired at a home around 11:30 PM. Upon arrival, they found two men who had been shot. Dhaliwal was pronounced dead shortly after arriving in hospital and his cousin is in hospital receiving treatment, the report said. His cousin, who is "roughly the same age" as Dhaliwal, is expected to survive. The injured man has not been identified, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said in a statement. "It's not clear what the motive was but investigators believe the shooting was targeted," Corporal Frank Jang with the IHIT said. "Whenever, you know, some person or persons decide to discharge or fire a gun in the community, there's always that concern that it could hit someone else. In this case we believe the bullets hit their target. We believe Dhaliwal was targeted for murder," he said. Jang said they believe "an unknown person approached the residence and shots were fired but have not yet determined a motive. "Right now, it's too early to tell if it's gang-related or drug-related or a personal conflict with somebody," Jang said, adding that no arrests have been made so far. Family friend Jaskarn Singh Dhaliwal said, all of sudden, someone came over and started shooting them. "Something went wrong and when, why, we have no clue yet. Police are working on it. His family tried hardest to keep him on track. The family is in shock. The whole community is in shock." Dhaliwal was working as an electrician's apprentice. The incident has rattled neighbours, who said there had not been any problems at the home before.