Sources told the The LINK that the young victim Harwindip Singh Baringh in the Abbotsford shooting may have known his killer but Abbotsford police are not confirming anything. We had reported that the a young man known to Baringh had accompanied him to the place where Baringh was shot and killed but police have denied any such information to the LINK. Abbotsford police spokesperson Ian MacDonald told The LINK that currently the investigation into Baringh’s killing is continuing but that police do not have any suspects in custody.
By R. Paul Dhillon
ABBOTSFORD – A drive-by shooting in Abbotsford that left an Indo-Canadian teen dead may have known his killer, sources told the LINK. But Abbotsford police in an interview with the LINK denied any such claims, saying they are continue the investigation into Harwindip Singh Baringh’s death.
The LINK was the only media outlet to first report the victim identity. Harwindip Singh Baringh is late son of Sukhjivan Singh Baringh “Thakra.”
Baringh was shot point blank and left for dead on October 2nd evening inside a running SUV.
Sources told the The LINK that the young victim may have known his killer but Abbotsford police are not confirming anything. We had reported that the a young man known to Baringh had accompanied him to the place where Baringh was shot and killed but police have denied any such information to the LINK. Abbotsford police spokesperson Ian MacDonald told The LINK that currently the investigation into Baringh’s killing is continuing but that police do not have any suspects in custody.
We also reported that Baringh is the victim of ongoing conflict between two Indo-Canadian groups in the Fraser Valley, which police had earlier warned would get more violent and feared people dying as a result of the continuing escalation
“The passenger-side door was open. Car was just sitting there running, guy bleeding everywhere,” Abbotsford resident Daniel Lockhart told CTV. “He honestly seemed like he was alive for the first 10 or 15 minutes.”
Baringh was pronounced dead at the scene.
A crowd of people formed outside after the shooting, and neighbour Raj Gill said the victim’s family was among them.
“The boy’s parents were here, and I just saw lots of crying, lots of upset people,” Gill said.
A motive hasn’t been established in the killing, but investigators believe it was targeted.
Const. MacDonald said it appears Baringh was killed in a drive-by shooting.
“Witnesses indicated that two vehicles left the area at a high rate of speed,” MacDonald said. “We searched the area for any other victims and any other suspects that might be involved in this shooting.”
Officers are searching for a white Acura TL and a dark-coloured sedan. No arrests have been made.
Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman offered his condolences to Baringh’s family this week.
“To have a young life ended so senselessly is extremely tragic,” said Banman. “As a father and grandfather my heart goes out to the Baringh family on their heartbreaking loss.”
Mayor Banman, who chairs the Abbotsford Police Board as part of his duties as mayor, says he is committed to seeing justice done in this case.
“These kinds of appalling events must be stopped. We known that every community has bad elements, and the whole community is in shock due to the acts of these few individuals, but as your Mayor I can assure you that we are committed to bringing the offenders to justice.”
It’s unclear if the suspected homicide is connected to an increase in youth violence in the area reported by police over the last several months.
Abbotsford Police had earlier warned that there was an escalation of violence between two Indo-Canadian groups with more than 25 incidents being reported since May 11, most of them involving property damage,
Police at the time said they’re “extremely concerned” that the conflict could result in “serious injuries” either to the young men involved or their families.
The conflict is believes to be between two groups of males, which constitute a large number of young Indo-Canadians, between the ages of 15 and 25 – a total of about 20 people, Abbotsford police said earlier.
Most of the incidents have taken place at night. Police have received calls about rocks thrown through windows and cars smashed up with sledgehammers. They’ve also been called to fights in parks in the middle of the night. A few arrests have been made and assault charges have been recommended.
Currently most of the damage has involved the homes or vehicles of people that are somehow connected to the males in both groups. Police say there is a pattern of incidents followed by retaliations over the past few months.
The Abbotsford Police Department’s major crime unit is leading the investigation of the conflict. Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call the department at 604-859-5225, or text it at 222973.
