A Canadian man of Indian descent has been arrested in connection with a shooting and arson attack on the residence of popular Punjabi artist AP Dhillon. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed the arrest of 25-year-old Abjeet Kingra from Winnipeg on October 30, following an investigation into the September 2 incident at Dhillon’s home in Colwood, British Columbia.
Authorities are still searching for a second suspect, also of Indian origin, who is believed to have fled to India, prompting law enforcement there to issue an arrest warrant for him.
Kingra is facing serious charges, including the intentional discharge of a firearm and arson. These charges are related to the gunfire aimed at Dhillon’s residence and the destruction of two vehicles on Ravenwood Road during the attack.
Superintendent Todd Preston, Officer in Charge of West Shore RCMP, stated, “West Shore RCMP officers have been working diligently on this investigation, which has led to identifying the suspects involved. We will continue to pursue this investigation and locate the outstanding suspect until an arrest is made.”
Reports indicate that on the night of September 2, police received calls reporting shots fired at Dhillon’s Colwood home, as well as fires involving two vehicles. Officers quickly evacuated a resident of the house while firefighters from Colwood extinguished the vehicle fires. Investigators later found a video purportedly filmed by one of the suspects, showing at least 14 shots being fired at the property. Notably, Dhillon was not present during the attack.
In relation to this case, an arrest warrant has been issued for 23-year-old Vikram Sharma, who is believed to have escaped to India. Sharma is wanted for charges of firearm discharge with intent and arson, and authorities have described him as a South Asian man around 5'9" tall, weighing 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. However, there is currently no available photograph of Sharma.
Dhillon, who made history as the first Punjabi-language artist to perform at the Juno Awards in 2023 and is known for his international hits, has not yet commented on the incident.