The Fact News Service
May,4
The arrested accused have been named as Karan Brar, Karan Brar, Kamapreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh.
IHIT announced that three men have been charged in relation to the homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Background: On June 18, 2023, the Surrey RCMP received a report of a shooting at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara at 7050 120 Street, Surrey. First responding members located a man, later identified as 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Nijjar, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took conduct of the investigation and has continued to work closely with a number of partner agencies and support services across Canada, as far east as Ontario, including the Surrey RCMP, the Alberta RCMP and other Lower Mainland Integrated Teams.
On the morning of May 3, 2024, IHIT investigators, with the assistance of members from the BC and Alberta RCMP and the Edmonton Police Service, arrested three men for the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The following three individuals have now been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the homicide: 22-year-old Karan Brar of Edmonton; 22-year-old Kamalpreet Singh of Edmonton; and 28-year-old Karanpreet Singh of Edmonton.
IHIT is releasing photos of the accused men in hopes of furthering its investigation.
IHIT is also releasing photographs of a Toyota Corolla, believed to have been used by the suspects in the time leading up to the homicide, in and around the Surrey area.
Following many months of investigative work by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, with close collaboration and assistance from the Federal Policing Program in BC, RCMP National Headquarters, the Surrey RCMP Detachment and other partner agencies; three suspects have been arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Now, with unequivocal commitment to the administration of Justice, and with reverence to the upcoming judicial proceedings on this matter, we are not able to make any comments about the nature of the evidence collected by police nor can we speak about the motive behind the murder of Mr. Nijjar. However, understanding this situation has attracted considerable and very broad public interest, I will say this matter is still very much under active investigation. I will underscore that today’s announcements are not a complete account of the investigative work currently underway. There are separate and distinct investigations ongoing into these matters, certainly not limited to the involvement of the people arrested today, and these efforts include investigating connections to the Government of India.
The RCMP Federal Policing Program, IHIT, and our municipal partner agencies are responsible for protecting Canadians from the most serious criminal threats posed by domestic and international criminals. Today’s enforcement actions demonstrate our relentless commitment and ability to combat the most sophisticated and complex criminal threats facing our nation.
Here today, we have Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, Officer in Charge of the Surrey RCMP detachment, who will be available with Supt. Mooker and I, to answer any questions you may have at the conclusion of our press briefing.
But first, I would like to congratulate the men and women of IHIT for the outstanding dedication and results achieved. I would also like to thank the RCMP’s National Security Program, particularly here in BC, for their unparalleled work ethics and dedication to serve our country on the separate investigative efforts underway; and also thank Surrey Detachment for their continued seamless collaboration and support. The commitment and skills of these investigators are second to none and I am very proud of their work and accomplishments.
I will now invite Supt Mandeep Mooker, Officer in Charge of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, who will provide you with additional details of the investigation into the homicide of Mr. Nijjar.
Statement by Superintendent Mandeep Mooker
Good day everyone. My name is Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, Officer in Charge of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
On June 18, 2023, outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara at 7050 120 Street in Surrey, BC, 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was fatally shot, while sitting inside his vehicle. Members of the Surrey RCMP took control of the scene making it safe, as the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was called to take conduct of the investigation.
Over the past 10 months, members of IHIT, in partnership with dedicated members of the Surrey RCMP detachment, have worked tirelessly to advance this complex investigation. Through investigative techniques, IHIT investigators followed the evidence to find those responsible for this horrific crime.
We are here today to announce that this morning, May 3, 2024, three men have been charged with first degree murder in relation to the homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. IHIT investigators, with the assistance of members of the Surrey RCMP and the Edmonton Police Service, took all three men into custody, in and around Edmonton, Alberta.
The following three individuals have now been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in relation to the homicide:
- Karan Brar, a 22-year-old Indian national, currently residing in Edmonton;
- Kamalpreet Singh, a 22-year-old Indian national, currently residing in Edmonton; and
- Karanpreet Singh, a 28-year-old Indian national, currently residing in Edmonton.
IHIT is releasing photos of the accused men in hopes of furthering its investigation. Anyone who may have seen these individuals, in or around Surrey, in the weeks leading up to the homicide, or anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact IHIT.
The investigation does not end here. We are aware that there could be others out there that played a role in this homicide and we remain dedicated to identifying and arresting each one of them.
At this time, I want to take a moment to thank CFSEU-BC, Edmonton Police Service and Surrey RCMP Detachment, who provided ongoing assistance to IHIT and who remained dedicated to this investigation.
I would like to thank the Nijjar family, the citizens of Surrey and the members of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Executive, for your patience and support throughout this investigation. I appreciate that the community still has questions, many of which we will not be able to answer at this time, as this investigation now proceeds through the courts system. Again, I thank you for your patience and understanding.
In closing, I would like to say how proud I am of IHIT’s Investigative Team and Investigative Support Unit for their dedication in the pursuit of justice and their ongoing determination to arrest all those that are responsible for this homicide.
