A 21-year-old Indian student, Harsimrat Randhawa, tragically lost her life in Hamilton, Ontario, after being struck by a stray bullet while waiting at a bus stop on her way to work. The fatal incident occurred on Wednesday evening and is now being investigated as a homicide by Hamilton Police.
Randhawa, a student at Mohawk College, was not involved in the altercation. Authorities confirmed she was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of a targeted shooting between two vehicles.
According to police, the shooting took place around 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of Upper James Street and South Bend Road. Officers arrived on the scene to find Randhawa suffering from a gunshot wound to her chest. She was transported to a nearby hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Surveillance footage collected by investigators shows that a passenger in a black vehicle opened fire on a white sedan. Both vehicles fled the scene shortly after the shooting.
In a disturbing development, stray bullets also struck a nearby home, shattering a rear window while the residents were inside watching television. Fortunately, no injuries were reported inside the house.
The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed condolences in a post on X, stating:
“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 urging anyone who may have dashcam or security camera footage from the area between 7:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. to come forward with information that could assist in the investigation.
The incident has sparked concern among local residents and the international student community, as tributes pour in for Randhawa, remembered as a bright and hardworking young woman.
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