CINCINNATI, OH- A group of four Sikh family members were discovered shot to death inside an apartment complex in West Chester Township after a barrage of gunfire was heard from the building, authorities said April 29. Those killed included Hakikat Singh Panag, his wifeParamjit Kaur, his daughter Shalinder Kaur and sister in-law Amarjit Kaur. The bodies were found by Panag’s son- in-law who said he arrived at the apartment on...
April 28 morning and witnessed his family members dead on the floor, according to West Chester Township police.
“My wife and my family are bleeding,” the man told the 911 dispatcher. “They’re on the ground and they’re bleeding.”
Police were not able to determine a motive, but said that there was no danger to the community.
“It does not appear that the shooter is among the dead,” Chief Joel Herzog said. “It appears to be isolated.”
The president of a local Sikh temple Jasminder Singh said the family worshiped there and called the deaths “a very great loss for our community.”
He added: “Everybody is in shock.” Jasminder Singh, president of the Guru Nanak Society Sikh Gurudwara Sahib of Greater Cincinnati, knew the victims of the quadruple homicide as kind, hardworking members of the local Sikh community. Hakikat Singh, a grandfather of three with brothers back in India, had been his friend for 11 years.
“We want to pray for him and his full family,” Singh said. “It’s sad. Horrible. Scary. Everybody in the community is scared. It’s never happened here before.”
The victims were shot to death inside their apartment while preparing food. A fire had started by the time police arrived. As authorities continued to search for the person or people who killed them, Singh led a prayer service to remember them. “They were very nice people,” said Katwinder Dhaliwal, who attended with his own family. “Middle-class family, you know. Hard workers, do everyday work, come back. ... They came from India, had a good future, you know?” The three women participated in regular events at the temple and helped prepare food there on weekends, according to Singh, who said he will miss the “beautiful family.”
Despite his shock, he added he did not believe the victims had been targeted because of their Sikh faith.
“I’ve never seen anything happen in this community,” he said. “We’re here with more than 500 families in West Chester and Mason together. This is a good place to worship. We’ve never received a threat or anything.”
“My wife and my family are bleeding,” the man told the 911 dispatcher. “They’re on the ground and they’re bleeding.”
Police were not able to determine a motive, but said that there was no danger to the community.
“It does not appear that the shooter is among the dead,” Chief Joel Herzog said. “It appears to be isolated.”
The president of a local Sikh temple Jasminder Singh said the family worshiped there and called the deaths “a very great loss for our community.”
He added: “Everybody is in shock.” Jasminder Singh, president of the Guru Nanak Society Sikh Gurudwara Sahib of Greater Cincinnati, knew the victims of the quadruple homicide as kind, hardworking members of the local Sikh community. Hakikat Singh, a grandfather of three with brothers back in India, had been his friend for 11 years.
“We want to pray for him and his full family,” Singh said. “It’s sad. Horrible. Scary. Everybody in the community is scared. It’s never happened here before.”
The victims were shot to death inside their apartment while preparing food. A fire had started by the time police arrived. As authorities continued to search for the person or people who killed them, Singh led a prayer service to remember them. “They were very nice people,” said Katwinder Dhaliwal, who attended with his own family. “Middle-class family, you know. Hard workers, do everyday work, come back. ... They came from India, had a good future, you know?” The three women participated in regular events at the temple and helped prepare food there on weekends, according to Singh, who said he will miss the “beautiful family.”
Despite his shock, he added he did not believe the victims had been targeted because of their Sikh faith.
“I’ve never seen anything happen in this community,” he said. “We’re here with more than 500 families in West Chester and Mason together. This is a good place to worship. We’ve never received a threat or anything.”
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