WARMINGTON: Cops hunting suspect in Mississauga gas station murder

There were not many signs Monday of the evil shooting that claimed the life of a 21-year-old woman at a Mississauga gas station over the weekend.

For a few minutes Monday, there were flowers left at the door of the Petro-Canada station where employee Pawanpreet Kaur, of Brampton, was shot to death Saturday around 10:40 p.m.

Then the flowers were removed and staff focused on selling gas, car washes, lottery tickets and convenience items. 

Some 36-hours before, the business in the Creditview-Britannia Rds. area, was swarmed by Peel Regional Police officers, media and witnesses who said a young attendant at the gas station was struck multiple times by gunshots from one shooter.

The killer walked away. It was chilling.  

“Based on video surveillance and witness interviews, police now know that the suspect was on foot in the area of the homicide three hours prior,” said police. 

But on Monday, if you don’t follow the news, you might not know anything ever happened at the gas station. It was business as usual. 

Sort of.  

You could see the anguish, horror, and bereavement on the faces of staff working there.

“It’s very difficult for them,” said a man who identified himself as the manager. “But any statements will have to come from Petro Canada.” 

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As of deadline, the enigmatic killer was still on the loose. 

However, police say they believe the killer meant to shoot the young gas station employee.

“The victim in this homicide was targeted,” said Insp. Todd Leach, the head of Peel’s homicide unit.Leach. “We know, from surveillance video, there were several people and vehicles in the area at the time of the homicide.” 

You may be able to help police solve this. 

“We are appealing to the public to check their dash-cam and home-security videos before and after the time of the homicide and to contact us if they observe any suspicious person or vehicles in the area,” said Leach. “We would also like to speak with anyone who knew the victim personally.” 

While, at least to the public, her killer is a virtual ghost, there’s not a lot of information coming in about Kaur.

Staff at neighbouring businesses mused she was an international student, but that has not been confirmed. 

If anybody knew Kaur, please let me know.

I don’t like it when the stories of homicide victims are not told. They are not numbers, but people who had their lives stolen from them.  

“We continue to work around the clock in order to identify the person responsible and bring justice for Pawanpreet,” said Leach. 

That person should understand something about Peel’s police officers. When they say something like that, they mean it. 

Stay tuned.