A community safety officer vehicle is seen outside of a local motel where RCMP appearing to be investigating an incident Friday, March 13, 2026. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

By Kenneth Cheung

FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

‘I’m really scared’: North Battleford taxi company raises funds for slain driver’s family, adds safety measures

Mar 16, 2026 | 11:34 AM

A North Battleford taxi company is raising funds and preparing new safety measures after one of its employees was killed during a pickup call last week.

Crown Cab owner Haris Korath said the company decided to donate all of its sales for March 16 to the family of Davinder Singh, the victim.

Korath said the family is still waiting for an autopsy before funeral arrangements are confirmed.

“We’ve been getting a lot of calls from the community and customers inquiring about the funeral date, and some of them want to show their honour, and some of them want to drop flowers and cards.”

“For now, we don’t know. We don’t have any confirmation yet. The family is still waiting for the autopsy to be done,” he said.

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Once plans are finalized, the company will share the details publicly. In the meantime, Korath said community members who want to pay their respects can bring flowers or cards to the Crown Cab office at 1162 98th Street.

Last Friday morning, March 13, RCMP found a man in the parking lot of the Hitching Post Motel in North Battleford who died at the scene. Another person was assaulted, had a firearm pointed at them and was confined to a hotel room before being taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

As a result of the investigation, 19-year-old Kojac Adams is charged with first-degree murder, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon and pointing a firearm. Garren Baptiste, also 19, is charged with manslaughter and forcible confinement.

Both appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court Monday morning and were remanded in custody, with the case adjourned to March 30 for their second appearance.

RCMP have confirmed only that the victim was a 30-year-old man. However, Korath has publicly identified the victim as Singh and said Singh was shot three times before he died.

Drivers fearful after the incident

Korath said the killing has shaken drivers across the company.

“Personally, I am really scared because I also drive in town sometimes and I’m scared for the drivers,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s gonna end or it’s going to happen again.”

He said some drivers have already decided to leave the job.

“Because they are scared. We can’t blame them.”

Korath said the company now faces uncertainty about how it will continue operating.

“We are in a tough spot right now. Nobody wants to work. We don’t know how to keep up the business.”

New safety measures planned

Crown Cab plans to install cameras in all of its vehicles moving forward.

“We will be installing cameras in all our cars for the safety of our passengers and drivers for the future,” Korath said, adding that only some taxis have them installed.

The company will also require passengers to place backpacks in the trunk before entering vehicles.

—

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com