Court hears Duck Lake gun video was made to ‘look cool’

The offense dates back to May of 2025 , although the video that prompted the public backlash was not posted to social media until three months later.

The video showed several men driving around the Rural Municipality of Duck Lake, waving guns while music played. At one point, a man could be seen standing with a gun and appearing to fire a shot into the distance while others watched.

The video prompted considerable reaction online, including unfounded speculation that the firearms were connected to plans to kidnap local women and girls for human trafficking.

Crown prosecutor Shaun Blackman told court the firearms shown in the video had been purchased in Saskatoon by Cheema’s now former partner, who was licensed to purchase them.

Cheema borrowed the firearms to record the video and later told his partner what he had done. She subsequently sold the guns. Police did not recover them.

Blackman said one of the challenges the Crown would have faced had the case proceeded to trial was identifying the people involved, as no one was willing to provide a statement.

“It was a very ill-advised video,” Blackman said, adding it also reflected poorly on the East Indian community.

Cheema’s lawyer, Peter Abrametz, told court his client was remorseful.

“It was immature,” he said.

When Judge McAuley asked what the purpose of making the video had been, Abrametz pointed to a trend among young people of posting videos on social media.

“I think they thought it was cool,” he said.

Abrametz noted no one was hurt or threatened with the firearms and said Cheema had matured during the court process and is now working in the trades.

McAuley acknowledged she had not seen the video but said, based on what she heard in court, she could see no purpose other than to instill fear and show off for friends. She compared the behaviour to gang members driving around with guns.

“It’s sending a message to people and I frankly don’t like the message,” she said. “This is not how Canadians act.”

Also charged in the case was Priyanka, who uses one name, was also charged in connection to the case. She pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026, to transferring firearms without authority and received a nine-month conditional discharge.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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by Nigel Maxwell

Court hears Duck Lake gun video was made to ‘look cool’

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