70-year-old Sikh man critically injured in Los Angeles assault; suffers skull fracture; suspect arrested

Los Angeles: A 70-year-old Sikh man, Harpal Singh, was violently assaulted while taking his routine walk near the Sikh Gurdwara of Los Angeles on August 4. The incident left him with a fractured skull and suspected brain trauma. Emergency responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department transported him to hospital, where he remains in critical condition under medical supervision.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed on Tuesday that Bo Richard Vitagliano, a 44-year-old “unhoused” man with an extensive criminal record, was arrested on Monday for the “brutal attack” on Singh. He has been booked for assault with a deadly weapon, with bail set at $1.1 million.

According to the LAPD, the attack followed an altercation during which both individuals were seen swinging metal objects at one another. Witnesses stated they did not observe how the confrontation began but heard a loud commotion. Singh was reportedly struck while on the ground, and the suspect fled the scene on a bicycle after bystanders intervened.

Police have indicated that, based on current evidence, the assault is not being treated as a hate crime and may have stemmed from a dispute over property. However, the Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group, has expressed concern, stating: “It is impossible to completely rule out that this is a hate crime at this stage. The suspect has been in custody for less than 24 hours, and Harpal ji himself remains unconscious and has thus been unable to sit for a full police interview, with professional translation services, separate from a conversation immediately after the attack."

They added: "After such an interview happens, if the LAPD still believes this was not a hate crime, they must publicly clarify how they determined hate was not a factor in this assault.”

Singh’s brother, Dr Gurdial Singh Randhawa, welcomed the arrest but called for clarity regarding the motive: “We need to better understand this attack and why it is not being considered a hate crime. Justice must be served, and our local Sikh community must know that the area around our gurdwara--where we gather to worship, learn, connect, eat, and serve others--is safe for all.”

In response to the incident, LAPD has committed to increasing patrols in the area and maintaining engagement with the Sikh community to address safety concerns.

PTI