Canada issues arrest warrant for teen’s involvement in extortion, shootings

Toronto: Canadian law enforcement has issued a countrywide arrest warrant for an Indo-Canadian teenager allegedly involved in extortion and drive-by shootings, even as the fugitive is believed to have fled to India.
In a release, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) identified him as Arjun Sahnan, 19. They linked him to three drive-by shootings, two in the capital of Alberta and the third in Winnipeg, the capital of the neighbouring province of Manitoba.
The incidents occurred on December 21, December 24 and December 29 last year. With regard to the first two instances, EPS said, “In both the Edmonton and Winnipeg shootings, the homeowner was extorted for money and threatened prior to the shooting. No one was injured in either shooting.”
As for the third, in Edmonton’s Sherwood Park locality, the release stated, “The homeowner received no threats prior to the shooting, and investigators believe the shooter accidentally targeted the wrong house.”
Through ballistic analysis, police have determined that the same gun was used in all three drive-by shootings and Sahnan is alleged to be “responsible for the shootings”.
EPS’ Firearms Investigation Unit or FIU “have determined that Sahnan fled to India, leaving on a flight that he had booked prior to committing the Winnipeg and Sherwood Park shootings”.
Police have sought information from the public related to Sahnan’s whereabouts and also released surveillance image of a second suspect connected to the Winnipeg shooting.
Interestingly, in a release from the EPS on January 3, it had stated that Sahnan “was arrested on five firearms-related charges during a December 30, 2023 vehicle stop that occurred in the area of 17 Street and 49 Avenue.”
“He has since been released,” it added.
The extortion series is being investigated by EPS under its Project Gaslight.
Multiple incidents of extortion have also been reported from British Columbia, particularly in the suburbs of Vancouver, as well as the Greater Toronto Area.