Suspect In Killing Of Indian Student In Canada Arrested, Says Toronto Police
The police identified the suspect as Richard Jonathan Edwin, who was charged with another homicide last Saturday.
New Delhi: Suspected killer of Indian student Kartik Vasudev in Canada has been arrested, announced the Toronto police, reported news agency PTI. The police identified the suspect as Richard Jonathan Edwin, who was charged with another homicide last Saturday.
21-year-old Kartik, who hailed from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, was shot on Thursday evening at the Glen Road entrance to Sherbourne TTC station in St James Town. He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
"Kartik was just outside the Sherbourne subway station last Thursday when he was approached by a stranger...Unprovoked, this man shot Kartik multiple times, killing him," Toronto Police Service chief James Ramer told reporters, quoted by the news agency.
39-year-old Edwin's second victim was Elijah Eleazar Mahepath (35), who was walking westbound on the northside of Dundas Street East near George Street, police said.
Ramer further said that the suspect behind both the homicides was in police custody describing both the incidents as "random attacks".
Detective Sergeant Terry Browne of the Homicide Department, Toronto Police, said Kartik was shot "multiple times" and he was in a "defenceless position" the whole time.
Behind the motive for both homicides, Browne said, "the suspect that we are referring to for both shootings, has no criminal background. We are doing a very deep dive to find out his criminal background, to find out who this person is, where he has been and who he has been associating with.”
"With regard to the two victims, there is nothing to suggest that he knew either of them and more importantly what we believe at this stage anyways is what we do describe as random, a chance meeting, a chance passing and the reason only known to the suspect," he added.
Will Take Up The Case Legally, If Needed, Says Kartik’s Father
Kartik’s father, Jitesh Vasudev in Ghaziabad, said that the family was informed about the arrest of the suspect by Canadian police officials.
He said their demand for the suspect's arrest has been fulfilled but expressed concern over the motive of the incident not being known.
“We have got to know that he was behind one more murder and firearms along with ammunition were found from his residence by the police. This was not a normal incident, no normal person shoots two strange people,” victim’s father said.
He said that he would soon be travelling to Canada to follow up and take up the case legally, if needed.
“We have been informed by Canadian authorities that the body will arrive in Ghaziabad on Saturday. We will perform the last rituals. We will go to Canada to follow up on the legal proceedings and ensure that the killer does not get away with small punishment,” the father said, quoted PTI.
Kartik was a first semester student of marketing management programme at Seneca College.
External Affairs Minister Expresses Grief
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had expressed his grief over the incident. "Grieved by this tragic incident. Deepest condolences to the family," he had tweeted.
"We are shocked & distressed at the unfortunate killing of Indian student Kartik Vasudev in a shooting incident in Toronto...," the Consulate General of India wrote in a statement posted on Twitter on Friday.
"We are in touch with the family and will provide all possible assistance in the early repatriation of mortal remains," it said.
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