A 21-year-old Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa lost her life after being struck by a stray bullet in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This marks the second violent death of an Indian national in Canada in just one month.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening near the intersection of Upper James and South Bend Road in Hamilton. Harsimrat, a student at Mohawk College, was reportedly waiting at a bus stop on her way to work when gunfire erupted between two vehicles — a black car and a white sedan.
According to Hamilton Police, a passenger in the black car opened fire at the white sedan, and a stray bullet fatally struck Randhawa in the chest. She was rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries.
Authorities launch homicide investigation
Police responded to the scene around 7:30 pm after reports of gunshots. Surveillance footage confirmed the exchange of gunfire between the two vehicles, both of which fled immediately after the incident. Alarmingly, some bullets also struck a nearby home where a family was watching television, though no one inside was injured.
Hamilton Police have classified the case as a homicide and are appealing for witnesses and anyone with dashcam or security footage from 7:15 pm to 7:45 pm in the area to come forward and assist with the investigation.
What Indian consulate in Canada said?
The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed grief over the incident and conveyed condolences to Randhawa’s family. In a statement shared on social media, the Consulate noted that Harsimrat was an “innocent victim” and assured that they are in close contact with her family, offering all necessary assistance during this difficult time.
This tragic incident comes just weeks after another Indian man was killed in Canada. In early April, an Indian national was stabbed to death in Rockland, near Ottawa. The Ontario Provincial Police responded to the incident and have since taken a suspect into custody, though the motive remains unknown.