18-Year-Aged Charged in Fatal QEII Highway Shooting of Birinder Singh

An 18-year-old man from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 22-year-old Birinder Singh on the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Highway near Leduc, Alberta, on March 14, 2026. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) made the arrest on Saturday, March 20, 2026, in Canoe Lake, Saskatchewan.

Details of the Shooting

According to RCMP, Singh was driving a 2012 Honda Civic with two friends when a grey 2022 Ford F-150 pulled alongside their vehicle near Township Road 490. Someone in the truck then opened fire, striking Singh in the neck. His friends managed to pull the car over to the side of the highway.

Suspect and Investigation

Jimmy Gassner, the 18-year-old from Lloydminster, was arrested without incident in Canoe Lake, Saskatchewan, on Saturday, March 20, 2026, and is now in custody. He is being transported to Alberta to face charges. RCMP Corporal Troy Savinkoff stated that investigators believe there may have been other occupants in the truck at the time of the shooting and are continuing to search for them.

“Witnesses indicate that there was more than one suspect in that vehicle when the shooting occurred,” said Corporal Savinkoff.

“This investigation is still very much ongoing right now.”

Motive Remains Unclear

Police have stated that the motive for the shooting remains undetermined. Corporal Savinkoff indicated that there was no known prior connection between Singh and Gassner, suggesting the incident was not a targeted attack.

“We don’t believe that the victim and the accused knew each other leading up to this event, so it wasn’t as part of a prolonged targeted incident that led to this,” Savinkoff said.

The two surviving passengers reported that someone in the truck made a hand gesture resembling a peace sign towards them before the shooting. Singh waved back.

Victim Background

Birinder Singh, 22, was an international student from India who had recently moved to Edmonton, Alberta, from Brampton, Ontario, in October 2025. He was working in construction and was traveling with friends to Banff for the weekend when the shooting occurred.

Possible Hate Crime Investigation

The World Sikh Organization of Alberta has requested that the RCMP investigate the shooting as a possible hate crime, noting that all three occupants of the vehicle were wearing turbans. RCMP have stated they are considering all possibilities.

Vehicle Located

The grey 2022 Ford F-150 believed to be involved in the shooting was located last week, but police have not yet released details about where it was found to avoid compromising the investigation.

With files from Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press