Passengers of man shot and killed on QEII mourn friend as 18-year-old charged with 2nd-degree murder

An 18-year-old man from Lloydminster has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of a driver on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway earlier in March.

Two of Birinder Singh’s passengers from the day he was killed on the QEII are still wondering what caused the highway shooting that led to them watching their friend’s death. They worry it was racism.

“We did not overtake them. We did not block their way. We were not honking at them. We did nothing. I do not know what they think … they are, I think we can say, racist,” one of Singh’s friends told CTV News Edmonton in an interview Tuesday.

Both men, who have asked to remain anonymous as the investigation continues, grew up with Singh, a 22-year-old international student from India who had just secured a work permit for a job in Edmonton.

The group headed to Banff on March 14 to celebrate a number of things, like Singh’s new job and his 22nd birthday, which was on March 12.

They were on the QEII near Leduc when a truck pulled up parallel to them.

“He just waved us, like, this kind of peace sign … so (Birinder and the front passenger) waved back. It’s normal here, to say hello,” his friend recalled.

Alberta RCMP say a truck was seen pulling up beside Singh’s Honda Civic, pulling away and speeding off. Singh’s friends described, in a flurry of a moment, hearing gunshots.

One of those gunshots, Mounties have confirmed, killed Singh on scene.

“It happened really quick. We didn’t have time to react. We called 911, and they were here within 15 minutes, but we lost our friend,” Singh’s passengers said.

When he was hit, his friends said, his leg pressed the accelerator hard. Lane control enabled the car to stay in control before it slowed down and Singh’s friends were able to bring it to a stop.

One of the passengers had to break the news of Singh’s death to his parents while they worshiped at their holy place.

“To hear their screams at that time, it was really hard for me to tell them, but it’s my responsibility to tell them, because he’s living with us,” he said.

A candle vigil for Singh will take place Saturday.

Charges laid

A Lloydminster man was charged with second-degree murder in Canoe Lake, Sask., on Saturday, Mounties announced Tuesday.

Jimmy Gassner, 18, is accused of shooting and killing Singh on March 14. He’s being held in custody and will be moved to Alberta for court proceedings.

Last week, the World Sikh Organization called for police to begin investigating the fatal shooting as a hate crime after speaking to Singh’s passengers.

On Monday, ahead of the arrest announcement, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff confirmed investigators were still looking into the ultimate motive.

“Should racism or hate be discovered as a contributing factor in this shooting, the Alberta RCMP Hate Crimes Coordinator will be engaged to help supplement our investigative resources,” he said in an emailed statement.

“Regardless of the motivation, this was a heinous act of violence perpetrated on an innocent victim.”

On Tuesday, Savinkoff added that the investigation is ongoing and that an update would be provided should any additional charges or individuals be identified.