TORONTO - Devinder Singh Gill, a married father whose wife is nine months pregnant, was abandoned by friends who left him to die of a bullet wound.

And now, police say the 33-year-old Brampton truck driver is being shunned again by the same people who are not helping investigators nab the killer.

Gill was shot while he had friends and guests over for a friendly gathering at his Castlehill Rd. home, in the Chinguacousy Rd.-Queen St. W. area, police say.

But they disappeared before officers arrived after being called at 4:19 a.m. Friday, Peel homicide Insp. Norm English said.

Gill, who has no record and isn't known to police, was taken to Brampton Civic Hospital where he died about an hour after arrival. An autopsy is scheduled for this morning.

The friends investigators did track down aren't co-operating, English said.

"This is a strange case," he said. "We know he had some persons over to his house and I guess they were entertaining in the basement, and he was fatally shot.

"The individuals fled the residence, including his so-called friend or friends.

"The level of co-operation is minimal at best," English said of the region's 15th murder of the year.

English said he doesn't even have enough information to piece together a description of the killer or the vehicle he fled in.

"I can assure you that will change. There will be a few of them who will face accessory charges," he said.

English said the case will take "some time" to piece together because of the lack of help from witnesses.

"We're going to push this as far as we can, as quickly as we can," English vowed. "It comes down to people having the decency and the courage to tell the truth and come forward."

Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3205, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.