One of the victims of a random shooting spree across Edmonton last weekend, Divam Gupta, 20, is now in a difficult situation after his car was shot and later broke down, severely affecting his livelihood as a food delivery driver.
Gupta was working for SkipTheDishes near Whyte Avenue on Saturday when the incident occurred. While making a delivery, he noticed a vehicle behind him behaving oddly and not passing him as expected. Concerned, Gupta got out of his car and looked back, only to find a man in the vehicle holding a gun and shooting towards him for no apparent reason.
“I was like, ‘What? Why isn’t he [passing me]?’ So I opened the door and just go out. And, just faced at the back from my window,” he recounted to CTV News Edmonton, requesting his face not be shown for his safety. “A guy had a gun in his hand and he shot towards me. It hit the vehicle. I drove away in a panic situation, and he shot two or three times towards me. By God, I was saved.”
Gupta immediately called the police, but as officers were speaking to him, another shooting incident was reported. The police advised him to go home and wait while they attempted to track down the suspect.
Eventually, the authorities arrested Tariq Sayed Mohammed Aman, 31, and Neanna Wuttunee, 28, in Devon, and both now face a total of 37 charges related to four separate shootings.
However, the ordeal left Gupta’s car with several bullet holes, and it later broke down, incurring $500 for towing. Unfortunately, the mechanic informed him that the engine was damaged beyond repair.
As an international student at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology), Gupta is facing financial hardship and doesn’t have the funds to repair his car or buy a new one. Adding to his troubles, his insurance company won’t provide assistance as he didn’t have comprehensive coverage.
“I wasn’t involved in some gang s–t. I didn’t have conflicts with anyone, I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And someone should help me. That’s all I want,” he expressed.
Gupta mentioned that he’s “not looking to get rich” but currently has only $7 in his bank account. He moved to Canada from India last year, hoping for safety and opportunities, but now regrets his decision.
“I’m not willing to go to school anymore. I don’t feel safe in this country. I’m all alone,” he said. “I’m legally over here. I pay taxes, I work, I go to school. The government should help me, someone should help me. I don’t know why victims services cannot offer me anything, I don’t know why someone cannot offer me anything, just cause my status is an international student. That’s not fair.”
Gupta shared that even the police told him they couldn’t provide financial assistance. A spokesperson for the Edmonton Police Service acknowledged that Gupta’s case highlights the profound impact reckless violence can have on the lives of innocent individuals.
Gupta has started a GoFundMe.