Sikh man, 66, beaten to death in NYC road rage attack; family calls for hate crime charges
A 66-year-old Sikh man was beaten to death in a Queens road-rage attack last week – and his family is calling for the alleged killer to face hate-crime charges.
Jasmer Singh was driving his wife home from a doctor’s appointment in Kew Gardens at around noon on Thursday when he got into a fender-bender – sparking the deadly confrontation, authorities said.
The other driver, Gilbert Augustin, 30, was arrested the next day and hit with charges including manslaughter, assault and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, police said.
Moments after Singh’s Toyota collided with Augustin’s Ford Mustang, a witness reported hearing a male voice say “No police” and saw a man reaching into the victim’s car and ripping a cell phone out of his hand, according to a criminal complaint.
Singh got out of his car and followed Augustin – and the two men argued before the victim managed to grab his phone back, the complaint states.
But the clash wasn’t over.
As Singh returned to his Toyota, Augustin allegedly punched him three times in the head and face, causing him to fall to the ground and suffer a brain injury, according to the court filing.
Singh – who had been preparing for an upcoming trip to his native India with his wife – suffered a brain injury.
He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he died the next day, police said.
His son told WCBS that Singh was left with a broken skull and missing two front teeth as a result of the broad-daylight Oct. 19 attack.
The son, identified only as Mr. Multani by the outlet, called on authorities to pursue possible hate crime charges against his dad’s alleged killer.
“The guy was addressing my father with his costumes, with his turbans,” Multani said. “There was no reason for someone to go in that intensity. My father was targeted and it is a possible hate crime.”
He described his father as an educated, “very noble person, a simple person.”
Singh’s wife, meanwhile, was traumatized and left with a “terrible impression” after the fight that took her husband’s life, Multani said.
Augustin – who drove off after the deadly attack – was ordered held without bail by Judge Danielle Hartman at his arraignment, according to prosecutors.
He’s due back in Queens Criminal Court on Thursday.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to the Big Apple’s Sikh community in a statement on Sunday.
“Jasmer Singh loved his city and deserved so much more than his tragic death,” Adams posted on X, along with a photo of the slain man.
“On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want our Sikh community to know you have more than our condolences,” he said. “You have our sacred vow that we reject the hatred that took this innocent life and we will protect you.”