The Edmonton Police Service released an image and video of the suspects and their getaway vehicle used in the brazen shooting deaths of a father and his child.
On Thursday, Nov. 9, 41-year-old Harpreet Singh Uppal and his 11-year-old son were found by police suffering from gunshot wounds inside a vehicle at a gas station on Ellerslie Road and 50th Street in southeast Edmonton.
Emergency officials tried to save their lives, but the man and child died on scene. A third person in their vehicle — another 11-year-old boy who was a friend — fled after the shooting and was not physically injured.
Police told reporters on Friday the father was targeted and his son was also intentionally killed.
Uppal was a high-level gang member involved in the drug trade, police said. There had been previous attempts on his life: two years ago, Uppal was shot while having dinner with his family at a Royal Pizza restaurant.
Investigators believe his son was not mistakenly caught in the line of fire last week, but instead was deliberately shot as well.
“Once the shooter or the shooters learned that the son was there, they intentionally killed him. Shot and killed him,” EPS Acting Supt. Colin Derksen said in a Friday news conference.
On Sunday, EPS released photos and a video of the suspects and the suspect vehicle: a stolen black 2012 BMW X6 SUV.
Officers said the suspects arrived at the Harvest Pointe shopping complex the SUV. Two people exited the vehicle, ran towards Uppal’s white SUV, fired their weapons and then fled the scene.
Shortly afterwards, police were notified of a vehicle fire on a rural road south of the city and arrived to find a burnt-out vehicle at 34th Street and Township Road 510.
Police are still investigating whether the suspect vehicle and burnt SUV are the same. Nobody was found inside the vehicle, and no injuries were reported in relation to the fire, police said.
Autopsies for Uppal and his son are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
“We are hopeful that releasing this photo and video clip will help someone recall seeing the vehicle and/or suspects before or after the shooting,” said Staff Sgt. Rob Bilawey in an emailed statement.
“Sometimes a seemingly insignificant detail can be immensely helpful to our investigation, and we encourage anyone with information they believe may be related to this shooting to call us.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact EPS at 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers.
— With files from Karen Bartko, Global News