A man who beat an elderly Sikh man to death in a road rage attack in New York City is now facing hate crime charges. Jasmer Singh, 66, was driving with his wife from a doctor’s appointment in Kew Gardens, Queens was attacked by 30-year-old Gilbert Augustin after a minor collision. Augustin was arraigned on Tuesday on an indictment charging him with manslaughter and assault as hate crimes. While Augustin was initially charged with manslaughter, assault and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, his charges have now been upgraded to include hate crime.
According to PTI, following the car accident an argument broke out between the two parties. When Singh attempted to call the police, Augustin reacted violently, and proceeded to fatally beat the elderly man causing him to fall and die from a traumatic brain injury. Augustin is accused of repeatedly referring to Singh as a “turban man”.
“This is a case of a fender bender immediately escalating to hateful language and then brutal, deadly violence. We will show in court that it was a rage inflamed by hate that led to this senseless tragedy. The defendant will have to answer to some very serious charges,” District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
According to CBS News, the victim’s son was among rows of Sikh people who showed up for Augustin’s arraignment
Members of the Sikh community packed into Queens County Criminal Court on Tuesday, not only to support the family of Jasmer Singh, but also to back the district attorney's decision to pursue hate crime charges against his alleged attacker.
Augustin faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder ordered him to return to court on December 6.
The October 19 attack on Singh, which led to his death, came just days after a 19-year-old Sikh boy was attacked by Christopher Philippeaux, 26, while he was riding the bus in Richmond Hill.
The Sikh community raised concerns over the recent incidents of hate crime and assault, meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams vowed to protect members of the community and gave a clarion call for educating people about Sikhism.