Elk Grove struggles to understand shooting of two retired friends
Modesto Bee
09-Mar-2011 (one comment)

Elk Grove continued to struggle Sunday with the unexplained shootings last week of two retired friends taking their afternoon walk.

Surinder Singh, 67, died in Friday's shooting on East Stockton Boulevard. His friend Gurmej Atwal, 78, who was shot twice in the chest, remained in critical condition Sunday.

Police said it may have been a hate crime.

The violence has prompted Elk Grove Mayor Steve Detrick and other civic leaders to arrange a meeting with representatives of Elk Grove's Sikh community, possibly as early as today, to hear their concerns and help formulate a response.

The shooting happened not far from the mayor's home, and Detrick said he had often seen the two victims walking together as part of their daily routine.

"People are very, very upset," he said. "Nobody's been able to find reasons behind such a tragic event."

Gurjatinder Randhawa, editor of the Elk Grove-based Sikh newspaper Punjab Mail USA, said some are afraid of taking walks.

At a Sikh temple Sunday, he said some members suggested no longer wearing traditional dress outdoors as a way to protect themselves from attack.

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At a Sikh temple Sunday, he said some members suggested no longer wearing traditional dress outdoors as a way to protect themselves from attack.

"That's the only way we can save ourselves," proponents argued, Randhawa said. "Some people – they were not happy with that," he said.

Funeral services for Singh are being planned for Saturday, he said.





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