Punjabi singer and actor Ammy Virk has reportedly escaped unharmed after a vehicle believed to be connected to his concert convoy was targeted in a shooting in Abbotsford, British Columbia, shortly after his performance on September 5.
The Abbotsford Police Department confirmed that officers responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 11pm. Police said a vehicle travelling in the 2500-block of McCallum Road was fired upon by people inside another vehicle.
According to preliminary police information, occupants of a dark-coloured SUV fired several rounds at the vehicle. Reports have differed over the exact number of shots, with accounts suggesting that between seven and 10 rounds may have been fired.
The bullets reportedly struck the rear window of the vehicle. Despite the shooting, no injuries were reported.
Virk had performed at Rogers Forum in Abbotsford earlier that evening and was reportedly travelling with a convoy after leaving the venue.
Several media outlets reported that the vehicle involved was part of the singer’s convoy and claimed that Virk was among those inside. However, Abbotsford police have not independently confirmed that Virk was in the vehicle or that he was the intended target.
Reports identify bulletproof Rolls-Royce
Some reports, including those by PTC News, identified the vehicle as a bulletproof Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Media reports claimed that four people were travelling in the vehicle, including Ammy Virk. Other accounts suggested that the group included the concert promoter and the son of the owner of a Punjabi radio station based in Surrey.
Authorities have not publicly verified these details, meaning the exact identities of those inside the vehicle remain unconfirmed.
Regardless of the conflicting reports, those reportedly inside the vehicle escaped without injury after the gunfire.
Burnt SUV discovered after shooting
Police also responded to a separate vehicle fire in the 2400-block of Sunnyside Place shortly after the shooting.
Officers reportedly found an SUV completely engulfed in flames and subsequently gutted by the fire. Investigators are examining whether the burned vehicle could be connected to the shooting on McCallum Road.
The Abbotsford Police Major Crime Unit is leading the investigation. Officers are working to establish the motive and determine whether the shooting and vehicle fire are related.
Sergeant Paul Walker said preliminary information indicated that the shooting appeared to have been targeted. Police have not disclosed the identity of the intended target or provided details that could compromise the investigation.
Authorities have appealed to witnesses and anyone with relevant information to contact investigators.
Police are particularly interested in dashcam recordings from McCallum Road between approximately 10:45pm and midnight on September 5. Information from people who were in the Sunnyside Place area between 11pm and midnight could also assist investigators.
No arrests had been announced at the time of the report.
Ammy Virk’s father says singer was not the target
Amid speculation surrounding Virk’s possible connection to the incident, his father, Kuljit Singh, said the shooting was not aimed at his son.
Speaking to The Tribune, Singh said he learned about the incident later and attempted to contact Ammy. He said the singer’s brother, Bhagwant, who speaks with him daily, subsequently confirmed that Ammy was safe.
Singh reportedly claimed that the incident was connected to people involved in organising the concert rather than his son.
He also said that Ammy did not have any personal enmity with anyone.
The family’s version has not been independently confirmed by Canadian authorities. Police continue to investigate and have not publicly identified the intended target.
Security concerns surrounding Punjabi entertainers
The incident has also renewed discussion about security concerns affecting Punjabi entertainers who perform in Canada.
Virk previously spoke about keeping family members away from the public spotlight, explaining that celebrities can have large numbers of supporters but may also face personal disputes or conflicts.
He had said that family members should not have to face the consequences of issues connected to an artist’s professional life.
The latest shooting follows several high-profile incidents involving Punjabi entertainment figures in recent years. These include the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in Punjab and a 2023 shooting outside actor and singer Gippy Grewal’s home in West Vancouver.
Authorities have not indicated that the latest Abbotsford shooting is connected to any of those incidents, and no group had claimed responsibility for the shooting involving the vehicle reportedly linked to Virk’s convoy.
Who is Ammy Virk?
Ammy Virk, whose real name is Amninderpal Singh Virk, is one of the prominent names in Punjabi music and cinema.
He gained recognition through Punjabi films such as Angrej, Qismat and Laung Laachi, while his music career has also earned him a large following.
Virk later expanded his acting career into Hindi cinema, appearing in films including Bhuj: The Pride of India, 83, Bad Newz and Khel Khel Mein.
The investigation into the Abbotsford shooting remains ongoing, with Canadian police continuing to seek witnesses, video footage and other evidence that could help establish exactly what happened and why the vehicle was targeted.
