Concerns are being raised after a man convicted of a kidnapping in Wetaskiwin in 2018 was recently charged with the first degree murder of an Edmonton security guard.
On Dec. 7, Harshandeep Singh, 20, was shot while patrolling an Edmonton apartment building in the area of 106 St. and 107 Ave.
According to the Emonton Police Service (EPS), Singh was unresponsive when officers located him in a stairwell. First aid was given until EMS arrived, however, he was declared deceased at the hospital.
According to a spokesperson for the family, Singh had only been on the job for three days.
Later the same day, EPS arrested and charged Evan Chase Francis Rain, 30, and Judith Saulteaux, 30, with first degree murder.
Investigators don't believe there are any further suspects and a weapon was recovered during the arrest.
Both accused had a court date on Dec. 11.
The matter was adjourned to obtain counsel and Rain is scheduled to enter an election and plea on Jan. 8, 2025 at the Edmonton Court of Justice.
In July, 2018, Rain, then 24, was charged with kidnapping with a firearm, pointing a firearm and assault causing bodily harm.
The Wetaskiwin RCMP had responded to an injured female at the Wetaskiwin Car and Truck Wash on July 25. The woman said she'd been forced into the trunk of a vehicle and held against her will before she escaped and hid inside of a maintenance room at the car wash.
The vehicle fled the scene but was later located at a residence around the area of 116 St. and 130 Ave. in Edmonton.
On May 23, 2019, Rain pleaded guilty to the unlawful confinement charge. The other charges of pointing a firearm, assault causing bodily harm and possessing a prohibited firearm were withdrawn.
He was sentenced to 443 days in jail, minus a credit of 295 days at 1.5 days served in pre-trial custody and served just one more day in jail. He was also given a firearm prohibition and a peace bond.
Singh's homicide has drawn attention, including that of the Conservative Party of Canada.
“It appears that our so-called ‘justice’ system terribly failed Harshandeep Singh – just as it has outrageously failed so many others,” said Tim Uppal, deputy leader of the Conservative Party in a press release.
“(His) murder cannot be accepted as just an unfortunate, unavoidable reality in our society."
EPS homicide detectives are still investigating what led up to the shooting and are asking anyone with information to contact them at 780-423-4567.
- With files from the Canadian Press
