Student killed by stray bullet remembered as 'sweet and beautiful,' as Hamilton police search for shooters

People gathered at Mohawk College on Wednesday to honour Harsimrat Randhawa, an international student who died after being hit by a stray bullet in Hamilton on April 17.

The 21-year-old, who was going into her second year studying occupational physiotherapy at the college, was struck in the chest near Upper James Street and South Bend Road. 

Hamilton police say the shots were fired from a black Mercedes SUV targeting another vehicle. The two vehicles involved in the shooting have been recovered, police said in an update Wednesday, but they continue to search for the people involved and to ask witnesses to come forward. 

At the college, Katie Burrows, vice president of students and international, spoke about the heartbreak people have been feeling in the wake of Randhawa's death.

"I'm truly at a loss for words. I don't know what to say after the senseless tragedy," Burrows said.

"I'm sure that you all shared the heartbreak that I feel — a heartbreak for Harsimrat, who came to Canada to train for a career in helping others, and who I'm sure was looking forward to what her life would look like after she finished her program."

Burrows also spoke about the heartbreak she feels for Randhawa's friends and her community, who lost "a valued person" in their lives.

"And I'm sure you share my heartbreak for her family who said goodbye to her when she left India. The loss of a child is an unimaginable loss, there are no words that I can say that will make this less bad, but being together today hopefully helps," Burrows said.

Graeme Douglas, program manager of allied health at Mohawk College, read memories and words of condolence shared by students who knew Randhawa.

"Harsimrat was not only a good friend but also a student with big dreams. She had goals and ambitions. Whenever I talked to her, she was cheerful, supportive and heartwarming. You'll always be remembered and cherished," one tribute reads.

She would have been a beautiful health-care worker. So, it's a loss to everybody.- Micheline Lancia, Mohawk College professor

Another person wrote, "This world has lost a very sweet and beautiful person. I worked with Harsimrat in our first semester. We were in a group together. We met several times over Zoom, one-on-one to go over our assignments and I mentored her in this a little. She was very sweet and she shared with me about her family in India and her family here in Canada. Her eyes lit up when she talked about her family."

Harveer Singh, a student at the college, led a moment of silence in honour of his former schoolmate.

Ajay Mahajan, president of local Hindu Samaj Temple in Hamilton, described the shooting death as "a very, very tragic moment."

'A loss to everybody'

Micheline Lancia, one of Randhawa's professors, remembers her as "a very kind soul" who was taken way too soon.

"It's very, very overwhelming to see a student who was doing so well, gentle, respectful, a little bit timid, she would have been a beautiful health-care worker. So, it's a loss to everybody," Lancia.

"She was just very respectful of her presence. With health care, we are constantly handling patients, so you have to ask for permission and let them know that you will be touching them so they understand the process. And she was so respectful of that entire aspect of clinical skills and working with patients."

Police recover vehicles involved in shooting

On Wednesday, Hamilton police said they have recovered the two vehicles involved in the shooting.

Acting Det.-Sgt Daryl Reid told reporters at a news conference that a white Hyundai Elantra was recovered on Sunday in a residential area in northwestern Toronto. It has since been towed back to Hamilton for forensic analysis, he said.

On Monday, Hamilton police executed a search warrant at a central Hamilton residence and recovered the black Mercedes SUV, Reid said.

"The white Hyundai ... was believed to be involved in the shooting as to the target vehicle with shots being fired at them," Reid said.

According to Reid, "investigators have been narrowing down the pool of people associated with these two vehicles," adding, "we will leave no stone unturned until we find you."

Police are encouraging those involved in the shooting to contact a lawyer and turn themselves in.

Randhawa was at a gym shortly before being shot: police

Meanwhile, Reid said police now know that Randhawa, who had come to Hamilton from India to study, had just left a gym in the upper area of the city when she was shot.

"She had taken a city bus to that location and had been waiting to cross the street. This was when she was struck by a stray bullet," Reid said.

Randhawa had zero capability of avoiding what was about to unfold in front of her. She had just stepped off of the city bus, was waiting to cross the street, from my understanding, and everything unfolded so quickly she had no time at all to react."

Based on video collected by investigators, Reid said there was "a significant amount of traffic" travelling up and down the roadway at the time of the shooting. 

"We know from watching that video that there were numerous cars that just passed through at that very moment. Many of those people have come forward and I thank those people for coming forward to assist us," he said.

"But we know there are more people out there that might have even the smallest piece of information that could help us, and putting all of those little pieces together is what we need to do. So, we continue to encourage those people to come forward."

WATCH | Community members gathered Sunday to mourn Harsimrat Randhawa's death: 

International student killed by stray bullet hoped for 'better future' in Canada

3 days ago

Duration 2:09

Community members in Hamilton gathered Sunday to mourn the death of an international college student who was killed by a stray bullet.

An earlier vigil held on Sunday in Hamilton saw dozens of people gather to honour Randhawa.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath addressed the crowd, calling for stronger measures to curb gun violence.

"These guns have to go," she said. "We cannot have this kind of violence in our city, in our community. Look at all the people here — they're saying the same thing."

She told reporters Randhawa's killing was "shocking," and "unacceptable."

"My heart is broken for her, for her family, for the entire school community ... it's horrifying."

Horwath said community members are worried about safety in the city following this incident.

"Who should be worried, standing at a bus stop, that they're gonna lose their lives?" she said.