Canada: Man arrested, charged with murder of Indian-origin student Harsimrat Randhawa

Canadian police have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of Indian-origin student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton.
Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa was standing at a bus stand when she was hit by a stray bullet. Photo: Hamilton Police/X

Canadian police have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of Indian-origin student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario.

The accused, identified as Jerdaine Foster, was taken into custody in Niagara Falls on Tuesday.

He has been charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder, Acting Det.-Sgt. Daryl Reid told reporters, as quoted by CBC News on Thursday.

Randhawa, 21, a Mohawk College student, was killed on 17 April when a stray bullet struck her as she stood near a bus stop at Upper James Street and South Bend Road.

“Harsimrat was an innocent bystander,” Reid said. “She was simply trying to make her way home from a local gym when she was struck and killed.”

Police said the incident stemmed from a dispute involving at least seven people in four vehicles.

No other arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Indian Consulate in Toronto had expressed deep sorrow over Randhawa’s death.

“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,” the consulate wrote on X after her death.