The family of the teenager who died after being attacked in front of a high school in Edmonton is remembered as a meek boy who loved to cook.
Karanvir Sahota, nicknamed Karan by his family, was attacked in front of McNally High School on April 8, less than a month after his 16th birthday. The 10th grader died a week later.
His cousins Monica Bins and Shivlin Sidhu say they don’t know why anyone would attack the quiet boy who was caring for his mother and little sister.
“Things like that don’t happen to good people like Karan,” Beans said.
She and Sidhu described being in a state of disbelief when they first heard the news that Sahota was in the hospital. Sidhu said he expected only minor injuries, adding that he hoped he would be in hospital for just a few days.
“Sometimes I still wake up in disbelief that Karan is not physically with us,” she said.
‘jewel for a child’
Sidhu tenderly regains his memories of Sahota as a baby. She said she lives across the street from him and will help her aunt by taking diapers.
“I remember every day I was with him, playing with him. I was so excited, “she said of her older cousin.
When Sahota grew up, his cousins told him that he had become an active child, always full of energy and love.
To combat boredom and express his creativity, Beans said Sahota had developed a passion for cooking.
She said he not only cooks for his family, but also loves to cook for his friends.
“And it’s a unique attribute because it’s just not something you’d normally find in our community,” Beans said.
Shivlin Sidhu, left, and Monica Bins say they can’t understand why anyone would want to attack their cousin Karanvir Sahota. (Craig Ryan / CBC)
On top of that, Beans said Sahota wanted to take care of her mother and younger sister. His mother was coming home from work, and Sahota would wash all the dishes, she said.
“He was a good child. For example, it was just a child’s jewel, “Beans said.
While many of Sahota’s friends had cars, Beans said it was a good idea to travel by bus. He also never asked his mother for money, she said.
“All he wanted to do was ease his mother’s burden,” Beans said. “And he just couldn’t wait to grow up and help her.”
Identified suspects
Both Sidhu and Bins spent time with Sahota in the hospital after he was attacked. They said they talked to him, held his hands and brushed his hair, just as they did when he was little.
“I know he was listening,” Bean said.
The women said they expected him to wake up one day and would be able to ask what had happened.
Sahota was attacked on April 8 in front of McNally High. He died a week later. (Courtesy of the Sahota family)
“And now we will never be able to do that,” Sidhu said.
Homicide detectives are currently investigating the case. Edmonton police say a number of young suspects have been identified.
For now, Sidhu says he hopes for justice, but also says “nothing will be enough” to compensate for the loss of his cousin.
“Our family is completely destroyed,” Bean said. “I don’t even know how we start treatment, because it’s not just one person, but hundreds of people.”
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