Hamilton Police say an arrest has been made in the homicide of 21-year-old Harsimrat Randhawa, an international student from India who was fatally shot on April 17 while waiting for a bus on Upper James Street.
Jerdaine Foster, 32, was taken into custody this week in Niagara Falls and has been charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder. The accused was known to the police and made a court appearance on Wednesday.
Randhawa, a student at Mohawk College, was on her way to work when a stray bullet struck her during a shootout between two vehicles near the intersection of Upper James Street and South Bend Road. Police say she was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
The shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. on April 17 and involved a black Mercedes SUV and a white Hyundai Elantra. According to investigators, the passenger of the SUV fired multiple shots at the occupants of the sedan.
Authorities noted that as many as seven people were involved in the shooting. Foster is believed to have been in the Mercedes at the time, police said.
In the days following the incident, Hamilton police recovered both vehicles. The Hyundai was found in northwest Toronto with assistance from Toronto police, while the Mercedes SUV was located in central Hamilton.
“The investigation remains active and ongoing as police continue to identify, locate, and arrest those responsible,” Hamilton police said.
“Hamilton police would like to extend sincere thanks to members of the public who have come forward with information to assist in this case.”