A 21-year-old Indian student was fatally shot in Hamilton, Ontario, in a horrifying incident of gun violence that unfolded as she waited at a bus stop on her way to work. Harsimrat Randhawa, a student at Mohawk College, was struck by a stray bullet.
The incident occurred Wednesday evening around 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of Upper James and South Bend Road. According to the Hamilton Police, gunfire erupted between two moving vehicles—a black car and a white sedan. One of the passengers in the black vehicle reportedly opened fire at the white sedan, and amidst the chaos, a bullet hit Randhawa in the chest.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and transported her to a nearby hospital, but despite efforts to save her, she died from her injuries. Investigators believe Randhawa had no connection to the individuals involved in the shooting and was simply waiting for her bus when the violence erupted.
Police also reported that stray bullets from the shootout penetrated the rear window of a nearby home. The residents inside were watching television just feet from where the bullets landed. Miraculously, no one inside was injured.
The Indian Consulate in Toronto expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa,” the Consulate said in a post on X. “We are in close contact with her family and are extending all possible support. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this unimaginable time.”
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…
— IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) April 18, 2025
The police have launched a full-scale homicide investigation and are appealing to the public for help. Authorities are requesting anyone with dashcam or surveillance footage from the area between 7:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. to come forward, as such evidence could be crucial in identifying the shooters and bringing them to justice.
