Two people died, including a well-known local homebuilder, during a brazen daytime shooting at a construction site in southwest Edmonton.
Police said one of the men who died was 49 years old and the other man was 57 years old. A 51-year-old man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Police said the shooting occurred around noon on Monday, just off Cavanagh Boulevard Southwest and 30th Avenue Southwest in a residential area.
Police tape blocked off a property under construction near Collip View Southwest and Cavanagh Boulevard Southwest.
Global News could see a car on the street that appeared to have the driver’s side window shot out.
A witness told Global News they saw a victim being taken away in an ambulance. Alberta Health Services said EMS transported an adult to hospital in serious, potentially life-threatening condition.
Several tarps and blankets covering what appeared to be two bodies at the construction site of Gill Manor at 1605 Cavanagh Blvd. There were several evidence markers on the ground.
“It is shocking,” said Moe Banga, a former Edmonton Police Service investigator who is also a former city councillor. He was one of dozens of people in Edmonton’s South Asian community who showed up at the scene in the hours following the shooting.
“When it hits close to home, it’s really shocking.”
Banga said one of the victims is Buta Singh Gill, the owner of Gill Built Homes Ltd. The company constructs custom homes in the Edmonton area.
The two men’s families knew each other well, attended all their children’s weddings, and Banga said Gill was a wonderful person who generously gave back to the community.
“He was ready and willing to help anybody who needed help, in whatever situation. He was a prominent member of our Sikh temple on St. Albert Trail,” Banga said, adding just a day prior Gill was at the temple serving food.
A large crowd gathering at the scene of a crime is not a common sight in Edmonton. Banga said it was a sign of how well-regarded Gill was in the community.
“(The) Punjabi community, East Indian community is a close-knit community and they all want to be here so that, you know, if they can help in any way, they would be able to.”
Gill Built Homes has several construction sites around Edmonton and Banga said on Monday, Gill was making his rounds to check in with workers.
“Why would somebody hurt him? That’s beyond me.”
Gill leaves behind a wife, daughter and son, Banga said.
EPS homicide investigators will be leading this investigation, police said.
Police did not mention any arrests but said they “are not looking for any suspects.”
Autopsies have been scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in order to confirm the cause and manner of death for the two men who were killed.
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