A 26-year-old man from Delta, British Columbia, has been arrested in connection with extortion and firearm charges related to shootings in Ontario. Gurdeep Shergill was taken into custody on September 12 in Surrey, B.C., following a nationwide warrant issued by Peel Regional Police.

Shergill is accused of being involved in two shootings that occurred on July 10 and 11 in Brampton, Ontario. These incidents were reportedly linked to extortion attempts targeting members of the South Asian community. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the shootings.

In addition to Shergill, two other men have been arrested in connection with the case. Husandeep Singh, a 20-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, was arrested in July and faces similar charges, including one count of discharging a firearm with intent and one count of extortion. Gurpreet Singh, a 23-year-old man with no fixed address, was apprehended in Manitoba last month and is charged with two counts of discharging a firearm with intent and one count of extortion.

The investigation revealed that the suspects fled the scene of the Brampton shootings in a black Chrysler 300, which was later recovered in Winnipeg on July 13. Peel Regional Police coordinated with the Surrey Police Service to arrest Shergill, who has since been returned to Ontario.

As the investigation continues, B.C. police are also looking into a series of shootings in Surrey that have been linked to extortion attempts. In response to these incidents, the city of Surrey and the Surrey Police Service announced a $250,000 reward fund to encourage tips from the public.

This year, Surrey police have identified 44 extortion cases, including 27 shootings. The targeted businesses include a banquet hall, a car wash, a currency exchange, a trucking company, and a café owned by a well-known Indian comedian.

While Shergill faces serious charges in Ontario, Surrey police have stated there is no evidence linking him to the recent extortion attempts against the local South Asian community.