A road rage incident in Queens, New York, turned deadly, resulting in the death of a 66-year-old Sikh man, Jasmer Singh. The incident occurred at noon on October 19th, 2023, in Kew Gardens as Singh was driving his wife home from her doctor’s appointment.
Singh’s vehicle was involved in a minor collision with a Ford Mustang driven by 30-year-old Gilbert Augustin. According to witnesses, immediately following the accident, Augustin was overheard stating, “No police,” and was then seen forcibly removing a cell phone from Singh’s possession.
As Singh attempted to retrieve his phone, an altercation ensued between the two men. The argument escalated when Augustin allegedly assaulted Singh, punching him three times in the head and face. The force of the attack sent Singh falling, causing the victim to suffer a significant brain injury. Singh, who had plans to travel to his native India with his wife, was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he tragically passed away the following day.
Augustin, who left the scene following the incident, was arrested the next day and is currently facing charges that include manslaughter, assault, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was later presented in court, where Judge Danielle Hartman ordered that he be held without bail. Augustin is scheduled for another appearance in Queens Criminal Court this Thursday.
The violent confrontation has left Singh’s family devastated. Singh’s wife, who witnessed the horrific scene, has been deeply traumatized by the events that unfolded, leading to her husband’s loss. Singh’s son, identified by media outlets as Mr. Multani, has urged authorities to consider this incident a potential hate crime. Multani alleges that Augustin targeted his father, referencing his Sikh attire and turban during the incident.
The incident has raised concerns within the Sikh community in New York and has garnered attention from city officials. Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to the community: “Jasmer Singh loved his city and deserved so much more than his tragic death.”
The tragic incident has stirred emotions within the community and raised questions about road safety, increasing road rage incidents, and potential racially motivated crimes. This event also highlights the importance of the broader conversation about accepting, understanding and protecting diverse communities and their challenges.
As investigations continue and the case progresses, there is a strong call from the Sikh community and other advocacy groups for the incident to be recognized as a hate crime. They hope such a categorization could bring justice to Singh’s family and address the more significant issue of racially and religiously motivated violence in the city.