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LAPD fatally shoots Sikh man performing Gatka on street; releases video
The man, identified as 36-year-old Gurpreet Singh, was shot on July 13 after officers said he charged at them with a blade.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 29, Aug 2025
- 15:29 EDT
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The man, identified as 36-year-old Gurpreet Singh, was shot by the Los Angeles Police Department officers. / LAPD (YouTube)
The Los Angeles Police Department has released body-camera and surveillance footage of an incident from last month, in which a Sikh man was fatally shot in downtown Los Angeles.
The man, identified as 36-year-old Gurpreet Singh, was shot near the intersection of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard, close to Crypto.com Arena, on July 13. He died of his injuries on July 17.
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According to the LAPD, officers were responding to multiple 911 calls about a man wielding a large blade and threatening passersby in the busy intersection. Callers described Singh standing next to a black Dodge Challenger, swinging the weapon at vehicles and pedestrians.
Video released by police shows Singh swinging the blade in the street. On social media, some users suggested he may have been performing Gatka, a traditional Sikh martial art often showcased at cultural and religious events using a khanda, a traditional double-edged straight sword.
At one point, he appeared to slice his own face while moving with the weapon. Police, however, maintained that he posed an immediate threat and had ignored repeated commands to disarm.
Police said Singh fled in his vehicle while brandishing the “machete” from the driver’s side window. During a brief pursuit, his car collided with a police vehicle. Singh exited the vehicle near Figueroa and 12th Streets and allegedly charged at an officer with the blade, prompting police to open fire.
The video release has drawn mixed reactions. Some Sikh community members and online commentators questioned whether police recognized the cultural context of his actions. Others raised concerns about whether non-lethal methods could have been used instead of deadly force, particularly if Singh was experiencing a mental health crisis.
The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is reviewing the case, in line with standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.
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