Suspect charged in connection with fatal shooting near Leduc

LEDUC -- An arrest has been made in connection with a fatal shooting near Leduc on Mar. 14. 

The incident involved the death of 22-year-old Barinder Singh, who was shot while traveling with friends along the QE II near Township Road 490. The suspect -- 18-year-old Jimmy Gassner of Lloydminister -- allegedly pulled up beside Singh's Honda Civic and fired a bullet through the driver's side window. RCMP Corporal Troy Savinkoff says Gassner was arrested on Mar. 21 in Canoe Lake, Saskatchewan.

"He has been taken before a Justice of the Peace in Saskatchewan and has been charged with second-degree murder," said Cpl. Savinkoff. "He's currently on a six-day remand where he's kept in custody in order to facilitate his transportation back to Alberta, where he'll then be brought before an Alberta Justice of the Peace." 

At this time, a court date in Alberta has not yet been set. Cpl. Savinkoff says that despite the charges being laid, an investigation into the deadly incident continues.

"Despite the fact that we've laid these charges, our Major Crimes Unit is still actively investigating this offence," said Cpl. Savinkoff. "We still remain committed to trying to identify the motive of this horrible crime, as well as identify other people that may be associated with it."

He says RCMP will be providing additional updates when available.