Calgary police seek suspects in shootings, extortion targeting South Asian community
Posted Jan 26, 2026 11:48 am.
Last Updated Jan 27, 2026 10:18 am.
Calgary police are searching for suspects after a northeast home was riddled with bullets Saturday, an incident they believe is related to extortion events targeting the South Asian community.
Officers say they were called to Redstone Common in the community of Redstone at around 10:30 p.m. after several rounds were fired into a home.
Nobody was home, and no injuries were reported.
Police confirmed to 660 NewsRadio on Monday that extortion is believed to be a factor in the targeted shooting. Extortion happens when someone unlawfully obtains money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution through coercion.
They also believe this is the case with another shooting that happened in the Taradale community at around 10 p.m., which also had no injuries, and nobody was home.
No arrests have been made.
Calgary police say there have been 12 reported extortion attempts targeting members of Calgary’s South Asian community since July 2025.
They say these incidents have been reported across the country and have involved shootings, threats, and demands for large amounts of cash. Investigations into incidents of extortion began in 2024. Incidents have also targeted individuals in Edmonton.
Of the 12 attempts, nine involved shootings of homes, businesses or vehicles, all with no injuries.
Investigators say victims have received threats from offenders using the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, a recently designated terrorist entity in Canada, as a form of intimidation.
Jaskaran Sandhu, regional president of Alberta World Sikh Organization of Canada, tells CityNews the fear runs deep, and these incidents affect the entire community.
“The fear is one that impacts everyone directly because we’re all one or two degrees separated from someone that has been targeted with an arson, or an extortion, or a homicide, or threats from these entities,” he said.
“The fear is very real. You know, speaking about it is scary.”
The Redstone Common homeowners, who allowed CityNews into their home, said they were thankful no one was home, but are fearful this will happen again.
Sandhu says these extortions are not gang-on-gang violence; the victims are just members of the public, part of a certain community and background, being targeted and extorted by criminals.
“People that are engaged in community activism have been targeted. Folks who are involved in Sikh institutions have been targeted,” he said.
“Business people — folks that have run prominent, well-known businesses, restaurants, and grocery stores, but truck yards and home builders have all been targeted.
“We’ve seen examples in Edmonton, we’ve seen examples in Surrey, Brampton, Winnipeg, it’s happening across the country. Like literally coast to coast, and it’s targeting, again, primarily the Sikh-Canadian Community.”
Officers are asking residents not to engage with the threats or demands, to document messages and surveillance, to stay alert to unknown calls or messages, and to never send money or personal information.
Calgary police are asking anyone with any information about this to call them at 403-266-1234 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
With files from Nadia Moharib
