Bindy Johal’s Death: The Assassination That Ended Vancouver’s Most Notorious Gangster

At 4:30 AM on December 20, 1998, the neon-lit streets of Vancouver’s nightlife scene turned into a crime scene. Inside the Palladium Nightclub, Bindy Johal—once the city’s most feared gangster—was shot execution-style in the back of the head.

Despite a crowd of over 365 people, no one saw anything. The self-proclaimed untouchable gangster, who once laughed in the face of death, was now lying lifeless on the floor.

🚨 Who killed Bindy Johal? Why was he targeted? And what happened after his death?

Several theories have emerged regarding who orchestrated Johal's assassination:

The Betrayal: Did Bal Buttar Have Johal Killed?

Image: Quadriplegic and blind Bal Buttar

One prevailing theory suggests that Johal's death was the result of internal betrayal within his own circle.

Years after the incident, Baljit "Bal" Buttar, a close associate and former lieutenant of Johal, confessed to ordering the hit. In a 2004 interview, Buttar revealed that he feared Johal's unpredictable and violent nature, believing that eliminating him was a necessary preemptive measure to ensure his own safety.

Buttar stated, "I thought this guy was kidding, but he was actually being serious; he wanted to take him out."

Despite his confession, Buttar was never tried for Johal's murder.

Why?

• Lack of evidence: No solid physical proof tied him to the crime.

• Unreliable testimony: Buttar was already in prison and paralyzed from a later shooting, making his confession questionable. He was blind and quadriplegic at the time.

• Possible bragging: Some believe Buttar exaggerated his role in the killing to bolster his reputation in the criminal world.

  
  

With Buttar now deceased, the full truth may never be known.

2. The Payback: Was It a Rival Gang's Revenge?

Johal’s enemies were everywhere, but none hated him more than the Dosanjh brothers.

• In 1994, Jimmy Dosanjh was shot dead in broad daylight.

• A few months later, his brother Ron Dosanjh was assassinated in a drive-by shooting.

• Johal and his crew were the prime suspects, but they walked free after a botched trial.

  
  

Did the Dosanjh brothers' allies wait four years before striking back?

Some sources suggest that surviving members of the Dosanjh network, possibly with backing from the Hells Angels or Asian Triads, set up Johal’s execution as the final payback for the brothers' murders.

This theory makes sense—Johal was reckless, overconfident, and openly mocked his enemies. He even went on live TV to taunt them. It’s hard to imagine his rivals letting that slide.

Read: 10 Self Defense Tools You Can Legally Carry In Canada

3. The Professional Hit: Was Johal Killed by a Contract Assassin?

Johal was shot once in the back of the head in a packed nightclub, surrounded by witnesses—yet no one claimed to see a thing.

That level of precision suggests a professional hitman.

• Silent execution: A single, clean shot. No messy gunfight.

• Disappearing act: The shooter melted into the crowd.

• Zero witnesses: In a nightclub filled with 365 people, nobody “saw” anything.

  
  

If a pro was behind the trigger, it raises a bigger question: Who paid for the contract?

Some theories suggest the Hells Angels, tired of Johal’s recklessness, paid to have him removed before he could cause more chaos in Vancouver’s drug trade. Others believe a disgruntled former ally (possibly even Buttar) outsourced the job to a skilled killer.

4. The Inside Job: Did Someone in Johal’s Crew Set Him Up?

Johal’s paranoia was legendary. He often accused his own men of betrayal, even executing some of them on suspicion alone.

By 1998, Johal’s once-loyal inner circle was falling apart:

• Roman Mann, one of his top enforcers, was executed—likely on Johal’s orders.

• Bal Buttar, once his closest ally, had turned against him.

• Peter Gill, his own brother-in-law, was targeted in multiple failed assassination attempts.

  
  

Did someone in his own organization grow tired of Johal’s unpredictability and set him up for the kill?

Some believe Johal’s murder was orchestrated from the inside, with the killer gaining access to him that night through one of his own men. 

If true, the person who delivered the fatal shot may not have been an outsider at all — but a close associate waiting for the right moment to strike.

Bindy Johal Death: Will We Ever Know the Truth?

Bindy Johal’s death and murder remains one of Canada’s most infamous unsolved gangland assassinations. Over two decades later, no one has been convicted, and those who might have had answers—like Buttar—are dead.

Whether it was a rival gang, an inside betrayal, or a professional hitman, one thing is certain: Johal’s enemies got the last laugh. The gangster who once bragged about being untouchable was taken out in the most humiliating way possible—in public, with no one willing to step forward.

Maybe that was the point.

Do you think Johal’s murder will ever be solved? Leave a comment below.

Related reading:

• Self-Defense 101: Beginner Guide for Staying Safe In Canada

• The Story Behind Bindy Johal’s Iconic Adidas Jacket

• BC Gangsters: Bindy Johal

• Bindy Johal's Net Worth