Migrant family in deep shock over alleged murder of Ekampreet Sahni
A heartbroken father has described the moment when two police turned up at his family home to tell him and his wife their son had been gunned down.
Ekampreet Sahni, 18, was allegedly murdered by a man who police say got out of car, opened fire on the victim and drove off in a white SUV on April 23.
Sahni had been hanging out at a Newcastle beach car park about 10 minutes' drive from his home.
Paramedics treated the 18-year-old for a gunshot wound in his chest but he died just before midnight.
'He was a good boy, very hard-working and caring for everyone,' his father Arminder Singh Sahni told AAP.
'It is still such a huge shock for us. We can't believe he's gone.'
Sahni said he and his wife had tried calling Ekampreet several times and were worried for his safety when he did not pick up.
They had last heard from him about 10pm, and their worst fears were realised when police officers knocked on their door about 2am.
'He told us 'I am coming back' but after we didn't hear until 11pm, I then called twice, and then we got the news he was gone, the two policemen came home and they told us,' an emotional Sahni said.
The Sikh family had migrated to Sydney at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to be closer to family and settled in Newcastle less than a year ago.
They are on a temporary visa and hope to secure permanent residency, adding another layer of stress to the family as they prepare to bury their son.
Sahni said Ekampreet was ambitious and studying automotive engineering with dreams of running his own business.
'He was always helpful and caring for everyone around him, from his grandparents to his younger brother,' he said.
A scuffle between two groups of people had broken out before the shooting.
Accused killer Decklen Deaves-Thornton, 22, later handed himself to police and was charged with murder.
He appeared in court via video link on April 26 and will appear in a Newcastle court in June.
The vehicle Deaves-Thornton was allegedly driving was later found on fire in a nearby suburb.
Police described the alleged shooting as 'a senseless incident' which the 'community won't stand for'.
Surrounded by friends and family, the Sahnis are preparing for their son's funeral on Wednesday at Beresfield Gurudwara Sahib where hundreds of people are expected to pay tribute.
A fundraiser has been set up by the tight-knit Sikh community.
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