The victim’s father in India says it’s a hate crime
The Canadian Bazaar
TORONTO: A 21-year-old Indian student has been shot dead in Toronto.
Kartik Vasudev, who came to Canada from Ghaziabad near Delhi in January, was shot several times at about 5 pm on Thursday at the entrance to the Sherbourne subway station, which is not far from the Indian consulate in Toronto.
The victim was on his way to a Maxican restaurant where he had found part-time work two weeks ago.
According to Toronto Police, its officers responded to a radio call at Sherbourne TTC Subway station for a shooting.
The victim, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, was initially attended to by an off-duty paramedic. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Police are looking for a black male who was seen walking with a handgun from the crime scene.
The motive of the attack is not known.
But the victim’s father in India told Indian Express, “We are as clueless about Kartik’s death as we were on the first day. I have received no phone call from the Embassy or Canadian authorities. He was the only one killed and there seems to be silence around it. I feel everyone wants to let the issue die down but I will knock every possible door for justice,” said his father Jitesh Vasudev.
Expressing shock at the killing, the Indian consulate in Toronto tweeted, “We are shocked & distressed at the unfortunate killing of Indian student Kartik Vasudev in a shooting incident in Toronto yesterday. We are in touch with the family and will provide all possible assistance in early repatriation of mortal remains.”
In a statement, Seneca College said, “The Seneca community is saddened to hear of the tragic death of Kartik Vasudev, a first-semester Marketing Management student. Our thoughts are with Mr. Vasudev’s family, friends and classmates. Counselling support is being made available to students and employees.”
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