Mohawk College student killed in Hamilton shooting was innocent bystander: police

Hamilton Police say a woman who was shot in the Upper James Street and South Bend Road area on Thursday night has died in hospital.

Police say they received reports of gunfire in the area around 7:30 p.m.

When officers arrived on scene they found a 21-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the chest. She was taken to hospital where she later died of her injuries.

Police say the victim was an innocent bystander and has been identified as Harsimrat Randhawa from India. She was a student at Mohawk College and was standing at the bus stop on her way to work when she was killed.

Through video collected from the area, investigators have determined that two vehicles were involved in the shooting and a stray bullet hit Randhawa.

During the shooting, the passenger of a black Mercedes SUV fired gunshots at the occupants of a white sedan. Shortly after, the white sedan fled northbound on Upper James and the Mercedes went westbound on South Bend.

Police say bullets also went through the back window of a home on Allenby Avenue where residents were watching television a few feet away. No one was injured in the home.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of one of our students on Thursday evening,” Mohawk College said in a statement issued Friday. “Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.

“We know this loss is being felt by many and we will do everything we can to support Harsimrat’s friends, family and the broader college community.”

Police are asking anyone with security or dashcam footage from the area between 7:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. to contact them.