An elderly Sikh man is fighting for his life after a vicious golf club attack in Los Angeles — and the local Sikh community is demanding answers.
Harpal Singh, 70, was on his daily walk near the Sikh Gurdwara of Los Angeles in North Hollywood on August 4 when, according to The Sikh Coalition, a man on a bicycle approached and struck him repeatedly with a golf club. Witness video shows Singh sitting on the sidewalk, blood covering his face, clutching the weapon that had just been used against him.
Singh’s family says he suffered a skull fracture and internal bleeding in the brain. He has been placed in a medically induced coma and has already undergone three surgeries.
Police have arrested 44-year-old Richard Vitagliano on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. LAPD officials say surveillance footage allegedly captured him riding up to Singh before the brutal attack. Officers later recovered the bicycle in the area before taking him into custody.
According to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, Vitagliano has an “extensive criminal record” that includes narcotics, assault with a deadly weapon, and other weapons charges. Detectives currently believe the incident stemmed from a dispute over property, not hate — but that conclusion has sparked outrage in the Sikh community.
The Sikh Coalition says it is far too early to rule out the possibility of a hate crime, especially since Singh remains unconscious and unable to share his account with investigators. “If the LAPD still believes this was not a hate crime, they must publicly clarify how they determined hate was not a factor,” the group stated.
Singh’s brother, Dr. Gurdial Singh Randhawa, welcomed the arrest but called for transparency. “Justice must be served, and our local Sikh community must know that the area around our gurdwara is safe for all.”
The investigation is ongoing as Singh’s loved ones — and the broader community — wait for answers.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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