Sikh man, minor son shot dead in gang violence in Canada

An Indian-origin Sikh man, described as a “higher-level figure” in the organised crime scene in Canada, and his 11-year-old son were shot and killed in what police have called a “sick and twisted” escalation of gang violence in the city of Edmonton.Harpreet Singh Uppal, 41, and his son were gunned down outside a gas station Thursday afternoon in a brazen, daytime shooting, Edmonton Police Service acting Supt. Colin Derksen told the media on Friday.

The boy’s young friend, who was in Uppal’s car at the time, survived with no physical injuries.Derksen said police do not know whether the shooter or shooters knew children were in the car when they began following Uppal.

“But what we do know, sadly, is that once the shooter or the shooters learned that the son was there, they intentionally shot and killed him,” the Edmonton Journal quoted Derksen as saying.He added killing children was once a “line in the sand” gang members refused to cross, but that is changing.“That is sick and twisted,” Derksen said. “I think most gang members would agree.”Police have not released the name of the boy, pending autopsy.

Derksen said a suspect vehicle — a stolen 2012 BMW X6 — was located on fire north of Beaumont. No one was located inside the vehicle and no injuries were reported as a result of the fire.As of Friday morning, police had made no arrests and identified no suspects.Derksen said Uppal was a “higher-level figure” in Edmonton’s organised crime scene but declined to say if he was affiliated with any specific groups, the report said.Uppal was facing charges related to cocaine possession and trafficking, as well as illegal possession of body armour. A trial was set to start in April 2024, CBC News reported.

He was also charged with assault with a weapon and unauthorised possession of a firearm in relation to a case from March 2021. The Crown stayed those proceedings in February, it said.Derksen also declined to say whether police believe the shooting was retaliation for other violence, or whether retaliation for Uppal’s killing is expected.Sources have told Postmedia that Uppal was a prominent Brothers Keepers associate.His murder is believed to be part of a war between the UN gang and the BK.