The Canadian city of Edmonton witnessed a tragic incident as a Sikh man, Harpreet Singh Uppal, aged 41, and his 11-year-old son were fatally shot in a targeted attack. The incident occurred in broad daylight outside a gas station at a shopping plaza. Both victims succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while another boy in the vehicle survived.
According to Edmonton Police, Harpreet Singh Uppal was associated with a gang known as Brothers Keepers, and the shooting is believed to be linked to a rivalry with the UN gang. This tragic event follows a previous attempt on Uppal's life in October 2021 when an unidentified assailant fired multiple shots at him while he was with his family at a pizza shop. The recent incident highlights the persistent challenges related to gang violence and its devastating impact on individuals and communities.
Police said Uppal was "followed with the intention of finding him and ending his life. And it happened".
"With the young boy, his son, we don't know yet … that he was targeted in that sense. But what we do know, and sadly, is that once the shooter or the shooters learned that the son was there, (they) intentionally killed him. Shot and killed him. So he was not caught in a crossfire or killed by mistake.”
The victim in the targeted shooting, Harpreet Singh Uppal, had a complex legal history. In 2013, he was sentenced to 15 months in jail for the possession of unauthorized arms. Additionally, he was set to face trial in April on charges related to cocaine possession and trafficking.
His past legal troubles included charges of assault with a weapon and unauthorized possession of a firearm. This criminal history provides context to the targeted nature of the recent attack and may be indicative of broader issues related to gang violence and criminal rivalries. The incident underscores the challenges of addressing complex issues within the criminal justice system and the potential consequences for individuals involved in such activities.
(With Agency Inputs)
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