A confrontation stemming from a minor traffic incident on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens, New York, escalated tragically last month when 66-year-old Jasmer Singh was assaulted and later died due to the inflicted injuries. The dispute, which prosecutors are labeling as a hate crime, began when Singh, a Sikh man, was allegedly attacked by the other driver involved in the collision, Gilbert Augustin, 30, also from Queens.
The altercation drew significant attention from the Sikh community, as Singh’s relatives and community members are urging for greater vigilance and justice. Singh, originally from Punjab, India, moved to the US around 1991, crafted a life with his family, and retired as a taxi driver. The altercation occurred as he was returning from a doctor’s visit with his wife seated beside him; he had plans to travel back to India for the winter.
Prosecutors reported that following the minor collision, Augustin aggressively approached Singh and used derogatory language referring to his turban. The conflict intensified as Augustin refused to allow Singh to contact police and attempted to confiscate Singh’s cellphone. It was at this point that the situation turned violent, with Augustin striking Singh multiple times in the head and face, causing his turban to fall and Singh to fall backwards onto the concrete, which resulted in a fatal brain injury.
Source: Yahoo Movies Canada
