On a quiet Friday afternoon in Elk Grove, California, Surinder Singh, a 65-year-old Sikh immigrant, was taking his daily walk with his friend, Gurmej Atwal, 78. Singh had immigrated to the United States in 2005 and built a quiet life. Atwal, known affectionately as the "Walking Man" by his son, had started walking regularly to manage his diabetes. After a heart attack, Singh was encouraged by friends to join Atwal, and the two men became companions on their route, improving their health together day by day. They were beloved fathers and grandfathers, well-known and respected within their community and place of worship.
Their peaceful routine was shattered on March 4, 2011. As the two men walked along East Stockton Boulevard near Geneva Point Drive, a lifted tan or gold pickup truck pulled alongside them. Someone inside the truck opened fire, shooting both men multiple times in a shocking act of violence. Surinder Singh died at the scene. Gurmej Atwal was rushed to a hospital, where he fought for his life for weeks before succumbing to his injuries. The attack on the two grandfathers, both wearing the traditional turbans and beards of their Sikh faith, sent a wave of fear and grief through the community.
The Elk Grove Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation, with the FBI later providing assistance. From the beginning, investigators considered the possibility of a hate crime. The shooting came just months after another Sikh man, a taxi driver in nearby West Sacramento, was severely beaten by assailants who called him a Muslim. Community leaders and civil rights advocates noted a pattern of violence against Sikhs, who have often been mistaken for Muslims and targeted in attacks since September 11, 2001. Despite extensive investigation and rewards offered by the Sikh community, the case grew cold. Years later, detectives pulled the case for a fresh review, re-interviewing witnesses and leveraging advances in DNA technology, but these efforts did not produce any new leads.
The families of both men were left to grapple with the senseless loss. "Our grandfather was a peaceful man who adopted this country as his own," Singh’s granddaughter, Navi Kaur, said at a news conference in 2011. "How can anyone shoot a man who posed no harm to anyone?" Singh’s son, Harvinder, expressed similar bewilderment over the cowardly act. Atwal’s son, Kamaljit Singh Atwal, remembered the day vividly, recalling how a family friend called him repeatedly until he learned the terrible news. The month of March, once filled with family birthdays and anniversaries, became a time of profound sadness for him. "It has had a deep impact on my heart and family till now," he said more than a decade later.
The community has not forgotten Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal. In their memory, the city of Elk Grove dedicated a park in their honor, naming it "Singh and Kaur Park." Vigils and anniversaries have marked the passing years, with family and community members holding onto hope that justice will one day be served. Civil rights attorney Amar Singh Shergill, who has followed the case for years, noted that the lack of answers has compounded the community's grief.
As of October 2026, the double homicide remains unsolved. In an effort to generate new leads, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. The Elk Grove Police Department continues to hope that someone will come forward with the piece of information needed to finally close the case. "Hope is life," Kamaljit Singh Atwal said, reflecting on his long wait for justice. "I've seen on TV after 30, 40, 50 years the persons have been caught."
A reward of $50,000 is available. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Elk Grove Police Department at 916-627-3111.
