Racial discrimination factors into reducing sentence for double shooting in Porsche

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The shooting took place after 7 p.m. in a semi-industrial area.

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“The evidence included a surveillance video that showed a white Porsche occupied by Mr. Jazei and Ms. Walia crash into a parked car. Multiple shots can be heard on the video, and a person is seen exiting the Porsche from the front passenger door,” Wassenaar said.

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Sheikh “could not be excluded” as the shooter “from DNA found on the front passenger air bag, which deployed when the Porsche crashed,” said the judge.

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Nor could he be excluded “as a contributor to DNA found on a 9 mm Glock pistol found on the floor near the front passenger seat,” said the decision.

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“Sheikh was also linked to the incident through a distinctive diamond encrusted chain.”

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Jazei and Walia were taken to hospital that evening for their injuries, said the decision. “The person believed to be the shooter can be seen in another surveillance video running away.”

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Sheikh was arrested on March 6, 2023 and released on bail on April 21, 2023.

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After “his bail terms were varied to permit him to be out of his home with his surety,” Sheikh got in trouble with the law again.

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“On June 14, 2024 Mr. Sheikh opened the driver’s side door of a car, told the driver to get out of the car or he would shoot him, and forced his way into the vehicle, causing the driver to exit. Mr. Sheikh drove away and collided with two other cars but did not stop. He drove erratically along Front Street until his car became inoperable. He tried to enter another car but did not succeed and was arrested.”

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He pleaded guilty in May 2025 to carjacking and a judge sentenced him to two years less a day in jail.

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Sheikh went to a private college to study Information Technology (IT) in 2021 for seven months, said the decision.

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“He did two months of an online cybersecurity course. At age 21 he got a job in IT at an insurance company, making $65,000 a year. He worked for a year before he was arrested. In his affidavit, he indicated his desire to resume employment in IT. He intends to pursue further education and training upon release.”

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Sheikh “spoke of his deep respect for his parents and his Muslim faith,” said the decision.

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His “sister described him as caring and responsible, religious and grounded in strong values. She says he is a devoted son, brother and uncle. His family is fully committed to supporting him upon release. They believe he can grow and move forward positively.”

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After his attempted murder trial, Sheikh “said that he was sorry for everything that happened,” said the decision. “He wanted to rebuild his life in a positive, responsible, and productive manner.”

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The Crown argued for two life sentences for the shootings inside the Porsche.

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His lawyer recommended six years in prison.

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The court heard Sheikh suffered a “bullet graze wound” to his arm during the Porsche shootings.

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“The strength of this injury as a mitigating factor is somewhat muted, particularly since this was not a very serious injury,” said the judge.

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Sheikh spent about 14 months on bail, said the decision. “He described his bail conditions as extremely restrictive and said they had a significant psychological impact on him. He struggled with feelings of isolation and loss of purpose. He says that on one occasion he was unable to obtain emergency medical services when he was feeling physically unwell. When cross-examined on his affidavit, Mr. Sheikh said that his time on bail was spent with family, playing video games and watching movies.”

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Wassenaar determined that “bail conditions were punitive enough to be ‘akin to punishment’ and are therefore capable of providing some mitigation.”