Indian-American Birinder Singh was shot and killed on an Edmonton highway, suspect charged with second-degree murder

A man has been charged with second-degree murder after he shot and killed 22-year-old Indian international student Birinder Singh in a daytime highway incident near Leduc, south of Edmonton, Canada.Singer was shot on March 14 while driving on Highway 2 near Township Road 490. He died from his injuries later that day. Investigators said the shooting occurred when someone in a passing pickup truck opened fire on Singer’s vehicle.On Wednesday, the Alberta RCMP confirmed that 23-year-old Deon Libsekal has been charged with second-degree murder and accessory to murder in connection with Singh’s death. Liebcekar is already in police custody on unrelated charges.The charges follow the arrest of Jimmy Gassner, 18, of Lloydminster, Alta., who was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the same incident. Gassner was arrested near Kano Lake, Saskatchewan, according to RCMP.Investigators believe all suspects in connection with the shooting have now been identified and charged. Gassner and Liebcekar both had “some criminal records” and were known to police. Liebcekar previously faced charges of obstructing a peace officer and failing to provide information to a peace officer, court records show.Investigators believe the shooting was a random incident and that neither Gassner nor Liebcekar knew Singer or the two others in his car at the time.The World Sikh Organization of Canada, which works to protect the rights of Sikhs in the country, called on police to investigate Singh’s killing as a hate crime. The group expressed concern about rising anti-Sikh sentiment across Canada.However, the RCMP said there is currently no evidence that the shooting was racially motivated or related to robbery, gang affiliation, road rage or a hate crime. They also said investigators have not ruled out the possibility of mistaken identity or gang affiliation.Alberta RCMP Cpl. Matthew Howell said it was a “very rare example”. He added that people can still feel safe driving on the province’s roads.