18-Year-Old Charged in Alberta Highway Shooting That Killed International Student Birinder Singh
EDMONTON, AB – An 18-year-old man, Jimmy Gassner, has been charged with second-degree murder following a deadly shooting on Highway 2 south of Edmonton that claimed the life of 22-year-old Birinder Singh. Singh, an international student from India and a devout Amritdhari Sikh, was fatally shot on March 14 while driving with friends near Leduc, Alberta.
RCMP reported that Gassner, a resident of Lloydminster, was arrested near Canoe Lake, Saskatchewan, on Saturday and is now in custody awaiting his first court appearance in the Leduc Court of Justice. Police confirmed that the investigation remains active and that the motive for the shooting has not yet been determined.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada has called for the incident to be investigated as a potential hate crime, citing a rise in anti-Sikh discrimination nationwide. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff stated that authorities are reviewing all aspects of the case but have not confirmed whether the shooting was hate-motivated.
The tragic death of Birinder Singh has sparked concern in Alberta and across Canada, highlighting the need for vigilance against targeted violence and hate crimes. Authorities continue to appeal for any information from witnesses to aid the ongoing investigation.
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