An 11-year-old child and his father were intentionally shot and killed in an act of gang violence in Edmonton, Canada, described by police as “disturbing and malicious.”
According to authorities, a young boy, whose identity has not been disclosed, was in a vehicle with his 41-year-old father, Harpreet Uppal, outside a gas station in Edmonton on Thursday when they were assaulted. The boy’s friend was also in the vehicle but was unscathed.
The Edmonton police Acting Superintendent, Colin Derksen, stated to reporters that Mr. Uppal was being pursued in order to locate and kill him. This ultimately occurred. The victim’s son, who was also present, may or may not have been the intended target. However, it is known that the perpetrators intentionally took the son’s life upon discovering he was present. This was not a case of being caught in the crossfire or a mistake, but rather a sinister and calculated act.
Authorities stated that it was premature to disclose the identity of the younger victim.
The authorities suspect that a charred vehicle discovered in the vicinity is connected to the shooting incident.
Police officers verified that Uppal had a prior record with the police and had been previously wounded in a shooting at a pizza establishment in 2021. During that incident, he was accompanied by his family when an individual approached the window facing them and fired several shots through the glass. Uppal was the only one injured in that particular attack.
Scheduled for early next week are autopsies on Uppal and his son.
“I am deeply saddened by the thought of a child being taken from us in such a tragic and senseless manner,” expressed Alberta’s premier, Danielle Smith, in a released statement. “As with many others, I am troubled by the increasing prevalence of gun violence in our communities.”
The city of Edmonton, along with other major cities in Canada, is facing a rise in gun violence and crimes related to gangs. However, the recent shooting of a child has prompted the police to put more effort into solving the incident which occurred on Thursday during daylight hours.
Derksen stated that they will put forth their best effort and use all available resources, as they are determined to find the missing child.
Source: theguardian.com
