Canada-wide warrants issued for 2 suspects in Dec. 2021 attack on Elnaz Hajtamiri

Canada-wide warrants have been issued for two men wanted in connection with the 2021 attack on Elnaz Hajtamiri in Richmond Hill.

Hajtamiri was attacked at an underground parking garage on King Wiliam Crescent, in the Yonge Street and Bantry Avenue area on Dec. 20, 2021.

Investigators say she was assaulted with a frying pan by a group of men, one allegedly her ex-boyfriend.

Riyasat Singh and Harshdeep Binner were both arrested for carrying out the attack. They were charged with attempted murder and attempted kidnapping and Singh has since pled guilty and was deported in Dec. 2022. Binner is set to appear in court later this month in Newmarket.

Mohammad Lilo, Elnaz’s ex-boyfriend, was charged with attempted murder and attempted kidnapping for his role in planning the attack. He is also facing charges in connection with her kidnapping.

Last month, police arrested Harshpreet Sekhon of Mono, Ont., and have charged him with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. He is set to appear in court on March 24.

Earlier this month, police arrested Akash Rana of Delta, B.C., and he was charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. His next court date is set for March 24.

Police are now looking for 24-year-old Jaspreet Singh of Delta, B.C., and 23-year-old Sukhpreet Singh of Mississauga. Both were directly involved in the planning and execution of the attack, according to police. Both are facing charges of aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Investigators are encouraging the two to seek legal counsel and turn themselves in. Police also reminded the public that anyone who is, or has, assisted the suspects may be subject to criminal charges as well.

“I can tell you that York regional police continues to dedicate all resources available to bring those responsible to justice in this matter,” said Det Sgt. Jason Dinsmore. “I truly believe we will bring those responsible for the Richmond Hill attack and her subsequent disappearance to justice.”

On Jan. 12, 2022, less than a month after the attack, Hajtamiri was violently taken from a relative’s home in Wasaga Beach by three men dressed in police gear.

She has yet to be found and police have offered a $100,000 reward for information on her whereabouts.

Last week, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrested a 30-year-old Brampton woman believed to be involved in the abduction.

Krystal P. Lawrence has been charged with kidnapping.

Police have identified one of two other suspects involved in the kidnapping. Deshawn Davis, 35, is believed to be residing in the GTA, according to investigators.

Asked if the suspects identified by York police on Thursday know the whereabouts of Hajtamiri, Dinsmore said “we don’t know.”

“We don’t have those answers right now,” he said.

“It’s a complex investigation and we have ours here in York Region and OPP has theirs and we’re working closely with them, but I can tell you from back in December 2021 we are a lot closer today than we were when Miss Hajtamiri went missing, closer to finding answers that everyone’s looking for.”