Karnataka Techie Killed in Toronto Shooting; Police Suspect Targeted Attack
The fatal shooting of a 37-year-old Indian software engineer in Toronto has sent shockwaves through the Indian and Kannada communities in Canada and back home in Karnataka.
Toronto Police have informed the victim’s friends that early findings indicate the incident may have been a “targeted killing.”
Chandan Kumar Raja Nandakumar, originally from Nelamangala near Bengaluru and residing in Brampton, was shot around 3:31 pm on February 7 in the parking lot of Woodbine Shopping Centre, located near Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27 in Toronto.
According to a close friend who has been in touch with Canadian authorities, investigators believe the assailants deliberately singled him out.
“Police officials told us that the attackers appeared to have targeted him specifically.
Multiple shots were fired, all directed at him, before they fled the scene,” the friend said, requesting anonymity.
On Wednesday, Chandan’s body was placed for public viewing in Toronto as friends and members of the local Kannada community gathered to pay their respects.
Efforts are underway to complete formalities for repatriating his remains to India.
Community members have been coordinating closely with law enforcement and officials to expedite the process, and the body is expected to arrive in Karnataka by Saturday.
Friends described Chandan as an active participant in pro-Kannada cultural activities and community events in Canada.
He was employed as a software engineer at LTI Mindtree and was regarded as dedicated and proficient in his profession.
The incident has deeply unsettled not only the Kannada community in Canada but also the broader Indian diaspora.
With the motive behind the attack still unclear, many are struggling to comprehend the violence. Community members say the fact that several rounds were fired, all aimed at Chandan, has intensified fears and raised safety concerns.
Back in Karnataka, Home Minister G. Parameshwara visited the grieving family at their residence in Thayalgoundanahalli village in Nelamangala taluk.
He assured them that the state government is in communication through official channels to facilitate the return of the body and extend necessary support.
As investigations continue in Canada, family members, friends, and community leaders await answers about what led to the tragic loss of a life far from home.
#TorontoShooting #KarnatakaNews #IndianDiaspora #TargetedKilling #JusticeForChandan #CanadaNews #CommunityInShock #Bengaluru
