The attacker who allegedly beat a Sikh man to death during a road-rage incident in Queens has been indicted on hate crime charges, prosecutors said – as they revealed that the suspect repeatedly called the victim “Turban man.”
Gilbert Augustin, 30, was arraigned Tuesday on an indictment charging him with manslaughter and assault, both as hate crimes – in connection to the brutal daylight attack on 66-year-old Jasmer Singh following a fender-bender in Kew Gardens on Oct. 19, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
Singh was driving his wife home from a doctor’s appointment around noon when he got into the minor accident on the Van Wyck Expressway, sparking the deadly confrontation, authorities said.
Augustin, who was ordered held without bail, could spend 25 years behind bars, if convicted, prosecutors said.
Moments after Singh’s Toyota collided with Augustin’s Ford Mustang, a witness reported hearing Augustin say “No police, no police” and repeatedly referring to Singh as “Turban man,” prosecutors said.
The feud continued to heat up as Augustin told Singh that he was not going to allow him to go home and did not want him to call the cops, according to the DA’s office.
Witness testimony and video surveillance showed that Augustin then reached into Singh’s car and snatched cell phone, prosecutors said.
Augustin was clutching both phones when Singh got out of his car and followed Augustin, arguing with the younger man before grabbing his phone back, according to the criminal complaint.
But the clash wasn’t over.
As Singh returned to his Toyota, Augustin allegedly punched him three times in the head and face – with one of the blows knocking his turban off his head, prosecutors said.
The victim fell backward to the ground, hitting the back of his head and suffered a brain injury, according to the complaint.
He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he died the next day, police said.
“This is a case of a fender bender immediately escalating to hateful language and then brutal, deadly violence,” Katz said in a statement.
“We will show in court that it was rage inflamed by hate that led to this senseless tragedy,” she added. “The defendant will have to answer to some very serious charges. I want to thank my office and the NYPD for thoroughly investigating this crime.”
Singh’s son, identified only as Mr. Multani by WCBS, previously called on authorities to pursue possible hate crime charges against his dad’s alleged killer.
“The guy was addressing my father with his costumes, with his turbans,” Multani said. “There was no reason for someone to go in that intensity. My father was targeted and it is a possible hate crime.”
He described his father as an educated, “very noble person, a simple person.”
Singh’s wife, meanwhile, was traumatized and left with a “terrible impression” after the fight that took her husband’s life, Multani said.
The senseless deadly attack also drew the attention of Mayor Eric Adams, who expressed his condolences to the Big Apple’s Sikh community.
“Jasmer Singh loved his city and deserved so much more than his tragic death,” Adams posted on X, along with a photo of the slain man.
“On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want our Sikh community to know you have more than our condolences,” he said. “You have our sacred vow that we reject the hatred that took this innocent life and we will protect you.”
