An ambulance from Peel Region was spotted near the shooting scene. CBC
A man lost his life after being shot while sitting in a vehicle at a crowded Brampton plaza on Tuesday afternoon. Peel Regional Police arrived at the scene shortly after 1 p.m. following reports of gunfire near Bramalea Road and Dewside Drive.
Officers found the victim suffering from severe injuries. Despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe the suspect or suspects escaped before officers arrived.
Const. Mandeep Khatra, speaking for Peel police, confirmed that multiple gunshots were reported by witnesses. He described the situation as tragic but assured the public that authorities are working to bring those responsible to justice.
"This is a very unfortunate event in a busy area," Khatra said. "We are doing everything possible to hold those responsible accountable."
Investigation Underway
The homicide unit has taken charge of the case. Officers are interviewing witnesses and checking nearby security cameras for clues. Police have not yet determined a motive and are unsure if they have recovered the weapon used in the attack.
Authorities are urging anyone with cell phone, dashcam, or surveillance footage from the area to come forward. Police have already notified the victim’s family.
Community Reactions
The plaza’s management expressed deep concern over the shooting. Azad Goyat, president of the board of management, called it an "unfortunate incident" and said they cannot accept such violence in the area.
Local resident Amardeep Singh, who lives nearby, was shocked by the event. He pointed out that while shootings have occurred in Brampton before, this one felt unexpected.
"You don’t expect this in Canada," Singh said. "It’s a peaceful country. We’re part of the G7. This shouldn’t be happening here, no matter the reasons."
Singh frequently visits the plaza and describes it as a family-friendly location. He urged politicians to take action to curb rising crime in the city.
"This is not the Brampton we grew up in," he said. "We want politicians, whether Liberal or Conservative, to fix this problem."
