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Ashneil Ajit Singh, 21, was shot and stabbed on November 29th, 2011.

Singh was Edmonton's 44th homicide victim of the year.

Case status remains open and active.

When police got the call on November 29th, 2011, it marked the first time they had to deal with a homicide in nearly seven weeks. It was the longest break between murders they had all year.

But despite having the victim on the phone as he lay dying in a field somewhere on Edmonton's southwestern edge, investigators didn't catch a break and were unable to put a name to his killer.

It's not often that police get to interview a homicide victim before he dies, to ask such questions as who are you, where are you and who did this to you?

From what was reported, the victim in this case didn't know where he was ... and apparently didn't know – or didn't say – who shot and stabbed him ... or where.

At 12:09 p.m. police received what they term a "trouble unknown" call from a man saying he had been stabbed.

Inspector Brian Nowlan related the nature of the call to a gathering of media.

"He called on his cellphone, he asked for help. But he wasn't able to tell us where he was," Nowlan said. "But via the cellphone we were able to triangulate his position to this area."

It took officers a half hour to locate the man on an abandoned tree-lined farm near 170th Street and 21st Avenue SW.

"He said, 'I've been stabbed.' He didn't know where he was," Nowlan said. "We could tell he was obviously in distress. He just kept saying he's hurt and needs help."

Global Edmonton image - click here to see additional photos

When police found the man he was still holding onto his cellphone, lying on a roadway about 50 feet (15 metres) from his 2003 white Infinity G35 which was parked near several outbuildings.

"He was lying on the road suffering from what appears to be several gunshot wounds and at least one stab wound," Nowlan said.

One early reported indicated the man's throat had been slashed. It wasn't immediately clear whether the man sustained his injuries at the site or elsewhere.

"There's some evidence to show he may have driven there in distress," Nowlan said.

"There's some tracks going through the field that are actually leaving the street, but whether those are actually his or not we have yet to determine.

"We are going to have to trace back the vehicle and see just how exactly it got there."

Police believed the man had been driving northbound on 170th Street before he came to a stop at the farm.

A ground ambulance was first to arrive and an effort was made to stabilise the man.

After assessing the victim's injuries, STARS was called in – see images »

"Our medical crew ... assisted with the care of the patient in the back of a ground ambulance with Alberta Health Services," STARS spokesman Cameron Heke said. "The patient was in critical condition with life-threatening injuries."

The man was flown to the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Immediately his death was termed suspicious by police.

A police officer accompanied the victim to hospital, but it wasn't clear if investigators were able to speak to the victim before he passed.

According to CTV Edmonton, in addition to calling police the victim also called his father. No doubt police would go through the cellphone to see what other calls were made on it.

Nowlan said it took officers an hour-and-a-half to go through the half-dozen outbuildings on the farm, looking for weapons and possible suspects – see images »

It was likely that thoughts of March 2005 and Mayerthorpe were running through the minds of police.

"There was nobody else at the scene and we have no witnesses, we have nothing to go by at this time," Insp. Nowlan said.

"We didn't know, upon our response, whether or not that was the scene where this all took place. We had to be very meticulous."

Police had yet track down the owner of the farm, Nowlan said.

A portion of 170th Street was blocked off for several hours as police examined the scene. With an area the size of a farm to cover, they had to return the next day to finish – see images »

If the area seemed vaguely familiar to investigators, it should.

Just seven weeks earlier and three kilometres (two miles) due east, they had attended to another suspicious death that turned out to be two men shot dead inside an SUV in a remote cemetery – read more »

On November 30th, the man found at the farm was first identified by friends on social media websites ...

... and later by police as 21-year-old Ashneil Ajit Singh (the latter photograph – issued by police – suggested the man was known to authorities).

An autopsy determined that Singh had died from gunshot wounds. Through a news release, homicide detectives requested the public's assistance.

"If you live in the area of 170 Street and 21 Avenue SW, please check your backyards for any suspicious items like tire marks, blood or bullet casings," Det. Scott Jones wrote.

"If you find anything please do not touch it as it could be evidence. Call police immediately."

Police also said Singh was driving a 2003 white Infinity G35 and they issued a photo of a similar-looking vehicle. Friends of Singh posted a photo of the man's actual car on Facebook.

Police wouldn't say if Singh's death was drug or gang-related, or whether it had any connection to the double murder in the nearby Rosehill Cemetery.

The murder was Edmonton's 44th homicide of the year.

Ashneil Ajit Singh was remembered by friends and family as a man who was loved by many for his big heart and warm smiles – read more »

Ashneil Singh's funeral was held December 3rd, 2011, at the Park Memorial Funeral Home, 9709 111 Avenue. It was there nearly 400 gathered to pay their respects – read more »

Investigators seek iPad as evidence

On March 15th, 2012, police announced they were looking for a clue in connection with the death of Ashneil Ajit Singh.

Apple iPad 2

Homicide detectives asked for the public's assistance in locating a white iPad 2 that they believe was purchased by Singh in October 2011, about a month before he died.

"An iPad 2 belonging to Singh that has not yet been accounted for," Det. Scott Jones said in a release to media.

"Singh may have left this electronic device with a friend. This item may assist us with our investigation."

The iPad’s serial number was DN6GCWLDDKPH.

No further details were released and the investigation continues.

Those with information about the iPad or Singh's homicide were asked to contact Edmonton police at 780-423-4567, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.tipsubmit.com. Tips can also be text messaged.

Media note

You need a licence to buy a gun but anyone can post comments online

While the "anonymous" internet – populated by such social media wesbites as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter – has often been taken to task for hosting and spreading false rumours and innuendo, the online presence of "the mainstream media" can also be a minefield of character assassination and a breeding ground for mindless speculation.

And as Hunter S. Thompson once didn't say, there's also a negative side – read more »

All the information presented on this page has been compiled primarily from published media reports and should not be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against the individuals named on this web site.
The Last Link on the Left practices fair presentation and the disclosure of relevant interests.
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