New Jersey: A Sikh man working at a gas-station in New Jersey was shot dead over the weekend in an attempted robbery case.
The local police in New Jersey has announced an award of USD 8,000 for information leading to arrest of those responsible for the murder of Surinder Singh.
A native of India, Surinder Singh, 40, worked as an attendant at Garden State Fuel in Woodbury for 14 years.
A massive manhunt has been launched in New Jersey for two persons allegedly responsible for the killing of Singh.
The police also released a sketch of one of the suspects. One of them was described as a black male weighing 150 pounds, 5-feet-7-inches tall, armed with a small handgun.
The attackers fled the scene in a small, silver vehicle north on Broad Street.
According to police, Singh was shot twice – once in the upper chest, which went straight in and a second time near the right arm pit.
Singh’s younger brother, standing outside the family’s home Monday evening, was still in shock and holding back tears.
“It’s so bad,” said Satinder Singh, clutching flowers in his right hand. “I never even thought about something like this.”
The brother, who also works at the gas station, said he had been alseep during the incident, and was awakened by police knocking on his door around 10 p.m.
That’s when he heard the news.
“I’m still in shock, man,” he said. “It’s just us two brothers.”
According to Arjun Goyal, the owner of the gas station, Singh — a native of India — has spent 14 years pumping gas at night.
“He was a very sincere, hard worker,” Goyal said. “Everybody in the neighborhood likes him.”
Erita Polanco, who works as a bus person at Colonial Diner — which is located right next door to the gas station — heard the gunshots Sunday night, but wasn’t sure what had happened until the police informed the diner’s employees a while later.
“We’re very upset. We knew him so well,” she said.
“I still can’t believe I’ll never see him again,” added Eleni Mitrakos, the diner’s night manager.
Angelo Arber, the owner of Arber’s Lawnmower and Engine repair — also located next door to Garden State Fuel — agreed. Singh was “a very nice guy,” he said, and the senseless violence right next door still hasn’t quite set in.
“I feel really strange. I guess it hasn’t hit me yet,” he said. “He was excellent. You couldn’t ask for a nicer person.”
The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder, which was reported by a passing motorist at 9:03 p.m.
One suspect is described as a black male, approximately 150 pounds, 5 feet 7 inches tall and carrying a small handgun. Authorities provided no description of the second suspect.
In a statement, North American Punjabi Association alleged that the US law enforcement agencies have failed in protecting the lives and property of Sikh Community in the country.