Indian student dies of multiple gun shot injuries in Toronto

Toronto/New Delhi, April 9 (UNI): A 21-year-old Indian student, Kartik Vasudev, died after being shot several times at a subway station in Toronto on way to work. His distraught father has appealed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for help to bring back the body and justice for his son.

Kartik, a student of Global Management at Seneca College, Toronto, had around seven bullets pumped into him on Thursday evening as he stepped outside the Sherbourne TTC subway station on his way to the Mexican restaurant where he worked. The motive behind the killing is not known, and his family and friends have demanded justice for Kartik.

Police have not yet released information about a suspect or motive in the shooting. His cousin, Gaurav, said in a tweet: ”My cousin brother Kartik Vasudev was shot dead at a subway station in Toronto yesterday. We still don’t know what happened. Toronto police has not told us anything.”

According to the police account, officers found Kartik slumped outside the station’s Glen Road entrance with multiple gunshot wounds around 5 p.m. on Thursday. The homicide squad is now handling the investigation. According to Homicide Canada, Kartik is the 19th homicide victim in Toronto since January this year.

Police said Kartik was given medical attention by an off-duty paramedic, before being rushed to St. Michael’s Hospital where he died of his injuries. The suspect in the shooting is a Black male standing five-foot-six to five-foot-seven inches tall of a medium build, who was last seen carrying a handgun and walking south on Glen Road toward Howard Street.

In a statement on Twitter, the Consulate General of India in Toronto confirmed it was in touch with the family, saying: “We are shocked & distressed at the unfortunate killing of Indian student Kartik Vasudev in a shooting incident in Toronto yesterday. We are in touch with the family and will provide all possible assistance in early repatriation of mortal remains.”

His distraught father Jitesh Vasudev who stays in Ghaziabad has in a tweet appealed to EAM Jaishankar for help. Jitesh said they are not getting any support from Toronto police, and has demanded immediate visa for their family members. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed grief at the tragedy. “Grieved by this tragic incident. Deepest condolences to the family.”

The Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria, said: “Shocked and saddened by this senseless killing of an Indian student in Toronto. Deepest condolences to the family of Kartik Vasudev.”