A gang member and his 11-year-old son were fatally shot in a car outside an Edmonton fast-food restaurant. The boy’s friend, also 11, escaped unharmed. Acting Supt. Colin Derksen stated that the incident reflects the escalating gang violence in the city. The motive for the shooting is unclear, but it is believed that the father was deliberately targeted. Gang violence in public places has increased in Edmonton, with 196 shootings recorded this year, a 46% rise from the previous year. No arrests have been made yet. The Canadian Press reported
A known gang member and his 11-year-old son were tragically shot and killed outside a fast-food restaurant in Edmonton. The police have confirmed that the boy was deliberately targeted and killed, while another boy of similar age who was with them managed to escape unharmed. The incident occurred in a busy shopping plaza during lunch hour, highlighting the escalating gang violence in the city. The deceased father, identified as Harpreet Uppal, was a well-known figure in the gang drug world and had previously survived attempts on his life. The police are investigating a potential connection between the shooting and a stolen, burned-out SUV found nearby. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, but it was undoubtedly a targeted attack. Edmonton has seen a significant increase in gang-related violence, with 196 shootings reported so far this year alone. While these incidents primarily involve gangs, they pose a severe risk to innocent bystanders. The police have not made any arrests yet and are actively interviewing witnesses and collaborating with Uppal’s family to gather more information..
In a tragic incident, a well-known gang member named Harpreet Uppal and his 11-year-old son were shot and killed outside a fast-food restaurant in Edmonton. The police have revealed that the young boy was deliberately targeted and killed, while another child of the same age, who happened to be a friend of the deceased child, was unharmed. Fortunately, this second boy had entered the A&W restaurant, which is situated alongside a Petro-Canada gas station, just moments before the shooting occurred. Acting Supt. Colin Derksen addressed the media, expressing gratitude that the surviving child was physically unharmed, but highlighted that this incident reflects the escalating gang violence in the city, where innocent citizens and families are no longer respected by gangsters who are willing to resort to violence to serve their own interests.
Derksen further revealed that Harpreet Uppal, the father of the slain child, was a prominent figure in the gang drug world and the police had made numerous efforts over the years to convince him to leave that dangerous lifestyle behind and ensure the safety of his family. It is worth noting that Uppal had previously survived attempted attacks, including one where he was shot at in a pizza restaurant two years ago. While an arrest was made in that shooting, the charges against the suspect were recently dropped.
The incident took place in a bustling shopping plaza, which houses various businesses, including a daycare, and is located in the southeast quadrant of the city. However, life seemed to have returned to normal in the area by the following day, except for the presence of a teddy bear and a few flowers attached to a nearby light post, serving as a somber reminder of the tragedy that occurred.
The police are currently investigating a possible connection between the shooting and a stolen and burned-out SUV, which was discovered on a nearby road. The motive behind the shooting, whether it was an act of retribution or control, remains unclear at this time. Nonetheless, Derksen emphasized that it was evident that Uppal was targeted with the intention of ending his life, and once the perpetrators discovered that his young son was present, they deliberately killed him. This cruel act was described by Derksen as “sick and twisted.”
Gang violence has been on the rise in public places in Edmonton in recent years, with 196 shootings reported so far this year, indicating a 46% increase compared to the same period last year. While these incidents are mostly linked to gang activity, they pose a significant risk to innocent bystanders. Despite this alarming trend, Derksen reassured the public that there is no need to panic. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and no arrests have been made yet. The police are currently interviewing multiple witnesses to gather information, and Uppal’s family is cooperating with law enforcement..