Charges laid in shootings linked to murders and attacks across Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon

Charges have been laid against two alleged shooters police say are connected to a string of residential shootings in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon that left a married couple and an international student dead.

Peel Regional Police launched an operation called Project Midnight in March following the shooting deaths of international student Jagraj Singh in Mississauga and Caledon couple Jagtar Singh and Harbhajan Kaur.

Police say evidence has linked the two murder investigations to several drive-by or targeted shootings, but the victims were targeted by mistake. Investigators now say two people have been arrested and charged in connection to the deaths, however, no murder charges have been laid and police say the investigation is far from over.

Between Nov. 7 and Nov. 20, police say several homes and businesses were shot up in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon.

International student Jagraj Singh, who had only recently arrived in Canada, was shot and killed on the night of Nov. 15 while working at a business in an industrial area near Winston Churchill Boulevard and Royal Windsor Drive in Mississauga.

Investigators say Singh wasn’t the intended target of the attack and was at the “wrong place at the wrong time,” said Peel Regional Police Homicide Inspector Todd Custance.

Less than a week later, Caledon couple Jagtar Singh and Harbhajan Kaur were shot to death in their house during a home invasion. The couple’s daughter also suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

The home on Mayfield Road home is owned by a numbered company that is not owned by the Sidhus, and investigators say the family were also mistakenly targeted by their killers.

In a twist of irony, Peel police confirmed officers visited the family home days before the shooting as part of the investigation into Singh’s death. Police have said while the three murders have been connected to a rash of similar incidents, police say the property owners are not connected to Singh’s killing.

A pickup truck stolen in Mississauga allegedly used in the Caledon killings was later found burned out in a vehicle fire near Olde Base Line Road and Creditview Road.

The suspects were arrested on March 21 and both were hit with multiple charges including discharge firearm with intent, possession of a loaded restricted weapon and knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm, police say.

Police did not say which of the several shootings the charges come from.

Corey Denton, 34, of Scarborough has been charged with multiple counts each of possession of a loaded restricted weapon, knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm, unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm, discharge firearm with intent and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Jasvir Gill, 37, of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., has been charged multiple counts each of possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm, unauthorized possession of firearm, possession property obtained by crime, possession of firearm contrary to order, and breach of probation. He is also charged with one count of discharge firearm with intent.

The accused are both scheduled to attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.

While the killings and shootings are similar to dozens of extortion attempts targeting members of the South Asian community  in Peel and across Canada, a police spokesperson said the Project Midnight incidents are not believed to be connected to the extortion.

Police have set up a tip line and anyone with information on these shooting incidents is asked to contact investigators by calling 1-833-941-5570. You can also leave anonymous tips by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.