On a Memorial Day afternoon in Newark, New Jersey, Davinder Singh, a 47-year-old Sikh man who had moved to the United States from India 25 years prior, was fatally shot at his gas station. The incident occurred on May 30, 2016, at the Power Gas Station on West Market Street. Singh was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the chest and was rushed to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after.
According to his son, Jatinder Singh, his father had stepped out of
his office for some fresh air when an assailant approached him, pointed a gun, and shot him at point-blank range. The family immediately suspected the killing was a hate crime, as nothing was stolen and there appeared to be no struggle or confrontation. Jatinder Singh noted that his father, who wore a turban as part of his Sikh faith, had been robbed before but had always fought back. In the local community, Davinder Singh was a well-known and hardworking individual, fondly called 'David' by those who knew him for his kind words and pleasant greetings.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Task Force and the Newark Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting. While the family strongly believed the motive was hate, authorities did not immediately classify it as a hate crime. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the gas station in hopes of identifying the gunman.
Months later, on August 10, 2016, an arrest was made in connection with the murder. Malcolm Massey, a 49-year-old from Newark, was taken into custody without incident. He was charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and weapons offenses. Bail for Massey was set at $1 million.
