'Taken away in an instant': Brother of man shot dead in Brampton says he was victim of mistaken identity

The brother of a man shot dead in a Brampton driveway last week says he believes they were the victims of mistaken identity.

CBC Toronto has also learned that the owners of the home where the brothers were living own a home in Caledon, where another shooting took place later that night. Police have said the shootings are connected.

Speaking to CBC Toronto from his hospital bed, Khushwantpal Singh said and his brother were outside cleaning snow off their car, when they were attacked last Thursday. Singh was shot in the arm while his younger brother Pritpal Singh was shot several times at close range.

Police have said the shooting was targeted, but Singh believes he and his brother weren't the intended victims. 

"We never did anything wrong," Singh said. "I'm innocent and my brother was innocent."

Pritpal, who had just moved to Canada from India as an international student five months ago, was living with Singh and preparing to start courses in plumbing at Humber College next month.

Both were standing in the driveway of the Brampton home on Odeon Street, near Mayfield Road and Goreway Drive, before the shots rang out. Police were called to the home shortly after 11:30 p.m.

Singh said that a vehicle pulled up beside him and his brother. According to security camera video, two men got out of the back seat and opened fire.

"I just run away, I have a perspective, my brother is also going to run. I saw the crackers, lightning behind me, and I run towards the house," he said. "I didn't even see the gun."

Singh ran into the house and he thought his brother was going to run as well, but he said he found out later that Pritpal tried to hide in front of the car to avoid the shots. Security camera footage showed one of the gunmen approaching Pritpal as he was laying on the ground and shooting him repeatedly.

Pritpal, 26, died at the scene. Singh was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Peel Regional Police have not said if they believe the shooting was a case of mistaken identity but previously described it as targeted.

Brother tried to call 911 twice but said it was busy

Singh said it wasn't until he got inside the house that he realized his brother wasn't with him.

When he went back out to check on him, the gunmen had driven away and Pritpal was lying in the driveway. Singh said he tried to call 911 twice but it was busy.

"I see my brother is on the floor and he was still breathing a little bit," he said. "I tried to call 911 twice, and it's busy, both times it's busy."

Singh tried to take his brother to the hospital himself but realized he had been shot in the arm. The bullet went in one side of his arm and came out the other side.

"All I can say is, I wanted to save him, that's it. I tried to find a way where I could wake up him. I tried to lift up him," he said. "The second thing that comes into my mind is, let's lift him and put him in my car and take him to the hospital. The thing is, my arm does not give me the power to lift up him."

He said his next thought was to get help from the neighbours.

"I tried to knock on the doors, the neighbours' doors... I was screaming, all the way in that area. Nobody come to help me," he said.

"I was alone at that time, and feel helpless, because I didn't know how am I going to save my brother's life."

Someone did call 911 and police began arriving a short time later.

On a GoFundMe page, Singh wrote: "Pritpal was more than just a brother; he was a shining light in our lives. His infectious smile, kind heart, and boundless energy inspired everyone around him. He came here as a student five months ago to build a bright future.

"He had his whole life ahead of him, filled with dreams and aspirations, but all of it was taken away in an instant."

In a statement on Monday, Peel police said its homicide bureau is investigating the shooting.

"The investigation is still active and we will not be releasing any other details at this time," police said.