A 37-year-old Indian-origin information technology professional was killed after unidentified assailants opened fire on the vehicle he was travelling in at a shopping centre parking lot in Toronto, according to Canadian police officials. The victim, identified as Chandan Kumar, hailed from Bengaluru Rural district in Karnataka and had been living in Canada for the past six years while working with a private technology company.
The incident occurred on Saturday, February 7, when police responded to reports of gunfire at a busy mall car park. Officers arriving at the scene discovered Kumar inside a white SUV with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders transported him to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators said the circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear. Authorities have not confirmed how many suspects were involved or the number of shots fired. However, preliminary findings suggest the attack may have been targeted rather than random. Crime scene images showed bullet holes in the vehicle’s windshield and a shattered driver-side window, indicating that the victim was shot while seated inside the SUV. Police believe the assailants may have ambushed the vehicle before fleeing the area.
Inspector Errol Watson of the Toronto Police Service said officers are continuing to gather evidence and piece together the sequence of events. He acknowledged that a shooting in a public commercial space could heighten concerns about safety among residents and shoppers. Authorities have appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information, dashcam footage, or surveillance video from the vicinity to come forward to aid the investigation.
Kumar’s family in India has been informed of the tragedy. His father, Nandakumar, is a retired schoolteacher. Relatives described him as a dedicated professional who had moved abroad in pursuit of better career opportunities. His death has left family members and friends in shock.
The killing follows another fatal shooting of an Indian-origin man in Burnaby, British Columbia, earlier in the week, which investigators linked to an ongoing gang conflict in the region. While police have not indicated any direct connection between the two cases, the incidents have drawn attention to concerns about gun violence and public safety in parts of Canada.
Officials confirmed that the case marks Toronto’s third homicide of 2026. No arrests have been made so far, and the investigation remains active as authorities work to identify those responsible and determine the motive behind the attack.
