'A senseless and tragic loss of life': Friends and family remember Truro homicide victim
Friends and family of Prabhjot Singh are shocked and saddened as they try to make sense of what happened early Sunday morning in Truro.
“This is an absolute senseless and tragic loss of life,” says Truro Police Chief Dave MacNeil.
Police were called to an apartment building on Robie Street around 2 a.m. Sunday, where they found 23-year-old Singh with life threatening injuries.
He was taken to hospital where he later died.
“We executed several search warrants on the weekend and we did have a person of interest that was arrested shortly after,” explains Chief MacNeil. “However, they have since been released from our custody with no charges related to this homicide at this time,”
The town’s police chief says that the individual remains a person of interest in the ongoing investigation.
Singh worked two jobs in town, one as a taxi driver. His boss described him as a good person and a hard worker.
“He was supporting his mother in India, who is all by herself now,” explains Darlene MacDonald, Singh’s employer. “All she is going to have when he gets home is a coffin to bury. His father has been gone for a few years and he’s been helping support his mom.”
A GoFundMe has been set up in an effort to send his body home to India.
Singh’s loved ones say the 23-year-old came to Canada five years ago for a better life.
His friends spoke to CTV Atlantic, but asked to conceal their identities because they’re worried about their safety.
“He was very, very innocent and a very decent person,” explains one of the victim’s close friends. “He was struggling for his future, like we moved from India to here for our future, to secure our future.”
His loved ones are worried the attack was racially motivated, but they’ll wait to see what police determine.
“I have been in Nova Scotia for the last two years,” says another one of Singh’s close friends. “And I never thought in my dreams that I would lose one of my best friends like this.”
“We have no information on motive that we’re releasing right now at this point and time,” explains Chief MacNeil. “Should it become clear through our investigation that that is a motive or a factor in this case, then appropriate charges will be laid.”
The victim’s family and friends say they will continue to work with police during the investigation as they push for justice in Singh’s death.
The investigation is ongoing and police say there is nothing to indicate a risk to the public at this time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Calgary police to release more details on pro-Palestinian protest
Details on arrests, tickets and charges against a number of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at the University of Calgary will be released on Friday, police say,
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.