A 21-year-old Indian student, Harsimrat Randhawa was killed after being struck by a stray bullet while waiting at a bus stop in Hamilton, Ontario, on Wednesday evening (Local time). Randhawa, a student at Mohawk College, was an innocent bystander when shots were fired during a shooting incident involving two vehicles.
Hamilton police are currently investigating the homicide, confirming that Randhawa was not involved in the shooting. The incident occurred around 7:30 pm local time near Upper James Street and South Bend Road.
According to police, a passenger in a black sedan fired at the occupants of a white sedan, causing a series of gunshots that also struck Randhawa. Paramedics rushed her to the hospital, but she later succumbed to her injuries from a gunshot wound to the chest.
The shooting also caused damage to a nearby residence on Allenby Avenue, where residents were watching television. Gunfire shattered a rear window, but no one inside was injured, authorities said.
The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed deep sorrow over Randhawa’s death in a post on X: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario. As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time.”
Hamilton police are appealing for help from the public. Investigators are asking anyone who may have dashcam or security camera footage captured between 7:15 pm and 7:45 pm on Wednesday in the area of Upper James and South Bend Road to come forward with any information that could assist in the investigation.
