Toronto, July 26: A 26-year-old Punjabi woman, Navneet Kaur, was allegedly shot dead in Toronto, Canada, in what police have described as a targeted killing. A 37-year-old man, identified as Sharandeep Singh, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and breach of a court undertaking.

According to Toronto Police, the accused allegedly spoke to the victim for a short while before opening fire on her and fleeing the scene. He was later arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Woman Shot Dead After Brief Conversation

Police said the incident took place at around 7:23 a.m. on July 24 in the area of Humberwood Boulevard and Rexdale Boulevard (Arborwood Drive).

Emergency responders rushed to the spot after receiving reports of a shooting and attempted to save the victim. However, Navneet Kaur succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

Following the incident, the accused fled but was later apprehended by the OPP. He is a resident of Brampton and was produced before the Ontario Court of Justice on July 25.

Police have termed the incident a targeted shooting. However, they have not officially disclosed the motive behind the killing or the exact nature of the relationship between the accused and the victim. The investigation is ongoing.

Family Alleges Forced Marriage Pressure

The victim’s cousin, Malkit Singh, who lives in Germany and hails from Amritsar, claimed that Navneet and the accused had previously worked at the same place and knew each other. However, he said they were never in a romantic relationship.

According to the family, Sharandeep Singh is already married and has children. Despite this, he allegedly pressured Navneet to marry him after divorcing his wife. When she repeatedly refused, he allegedly began harassing her.

The family also alleged that Navneet had lodged complaints with the Canadian police regarding the harassment. They further claimed that they had contacted the accused’s family in India, informing them about his behaviour. According to the family, the accused’s relatives admitted they were also troubled by his conduct.

The family believes that if timely and strict action had been taken on the complaints, the tragedy could have been prevented.

Victim Had Returned to Punjab Out of Fear

According to her family, Navneet had returned to Punjab around two to three months ago because she feared for her safety due to the accused’s alleged harassment. She spent some time with her family before returning to Canada.

Her relatives said she had a good job in Canada and was focused on building her career.

Meanwhile, Toronto Police have appealed to the public for information related to the case. Investigators have requested anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to come forward and assist with the investigation. Information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

According to Toronto Police, this is the 22nd homicide recorded in the city in 2026.