Police seek help locating suspect vehicle in 2023 double homicide of father and 11-year-old son
Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Homicide detectives are seeking the public’s assistance locating a suspect vehicle that is related to the deaths of a father and son at an Ellerslie area business in 2023.
Police are actively searching for a green 2005-2007 Nissan X-trail that investigators believe is linked to the November 2023 shooting deaths of Harpreet Uppal, 41, and his son, Gavin Uppal, 11. The vehicle is noted to have distinctive damage along the passenger side, including a horizontal dent along the rear bumper and a distinctive rust spot over the rear passenger tire. Images of the vehicle and damage are included below.
“We are hopeful that someone recognizes this vehicle or recalls seeing it recently and we encourage them to come forward,” says Staff Sergeant Rob Bilawey with the EPS Homicide Section. “We believe the suspects were in the X-Trail shortly after the shooting and investigators are confident the vehicle will still contain valuable evidence, even after the passage of time.”
Anyone who locates this SUV is encouraged to not approach the vehicle and instead immediately contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250
Background information
On Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at approximately 12 p.m., Southeast Branch patrol officers responded to the report of a shooting outside of a business in the area of 50 Street and Ellerslie Road.
Upon arrival, responding officers located Harpreet Uppal and his son Gavin Uppal in medical distress. EMS responded, however, both father and son had succumbed to their injuries on scene. A third vehicle occupant, another 11-year-old boy not related to Uppal or his son, fled the vehicle immediately after the shooting and was not physically injured.
It was reported to police that the suspects arrived in a black BMW SUV. The two then exited their vehicle, ran towards Uppal’s white SUV, fired a weapon and fled the scene. Detectives determined that the shooting was targeted, and Mr. Uppal’s 11-year-old son was intentionally murdered.
A short time after the shooting, police were notified of a vehicle fire in the area of 34 Street and Township Road 510 (north of Beaumont). No one was located inside the vehicle and no injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
On Monday, Nov. 13 and Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, the Edmonton Medical Examiner completed autopsies on father and son. In both cases, the cause of death was gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was homicide.
On Thursday, June 27, 2024, police re-released a photo of the BMW suspect vehicle and a video clip of the suspects with the hope that someone who recognizes them will come forward. Officers continue to encourage witnesses or anyone who has video footage of the shooting and has not yet come forward to contact the police.
