A 37-year-old Indian-origin technology professional from Karnataka was shot dead in a suspected targeted attack at the parking lot of a busy shopping mall in Toronto, Canada, on Saturday afternoon. The victim has been identified as Chandan Kumar Raja Nandakumar, a resident of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area.
According to Toronto Police, Chandan was seated inside his SUV when unidentified assailants opened fire near the entrance of the Woodbine Shopping Centre, close to Rexdale Boulevard, at around 3.30 pm local time. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. No arrests have been made so far, and a homicide investigation is currently underway.
Police have described the incident as a “targeted” attack, though the exact motive behind the shooting remains unclear. While some family members have reportedly suspected that Chandan’s involvement in Kannada community activities in Toronto may have played a role, authorities have not confirmed any such link.
Chandan hailed from Thyamagondlu village near Nelamangala in Bengaluru Rural district of Karnataka. A computer science graduate from Sapthagiri College in Bengaluru, he moved to Canada six years ago. He was employed with LTI Mindtree and had previously worked with Cognizant in Bengaluru.
The killing has sent shockwaves through the Indian diaspora in Canada, particularly among Kannadiga communities, and has also drawn widespread attention in Karnataka. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said the state government has sought assistance from the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate the repatriation of Chandan’s body.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing as authorities work to identify the attackers and establish the motive behind the shooting.
