Parmjit Singh’s Murder Investigation Reopened. National Outrage Sparks Questions, Demands of Justice, Review Of Investigation, and Proceeding

October 13, 2020

Tracy, California

Tracy Police Department and U.S. Department of Justice have agreed to reopen the murder investigation of an elderly Sikh man, Parmjit Singh, after an outcry from the UNITED SIKHS, and the local Sikh community following the release of the main suspect from custody. The murder happened on August 25, 2019, and justice has yet to be served in the case. Speaking to federal authorities led the investigation to be reopened.   

UNITED SIKHS insists and has communicated to the officials that a thorough and broader hate crime investigation is needed than the one that occurred days after the horrendous unconscionable violent slaying.

The Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security have been notified to reopen a general inquiry, requesting to assist the city of Tracy, and start a new hate crime investigation in the public’s best interest. 

Judge Michael Mulvihill from San Joaquin County Superior Court of California released Anthony Kreiter-Rhoads, citing lack of clear video evidence, DNA, and no witnesses.  The rare move by the judge has caused ire and raised eyebrows locally, nationally, and globally. Facts are it is 2020, and we live in a racially charged environment. The suspect was briefly held and then released under questionable and mysterious circumstances.  The release surmounts that society may or may not get justice in Tracy, if one is a person of color and a victim.

“Congressman TJ Cox echoed his dismay of the events, and disgust in the dismissal of the murder case of Parmjit Singh by the judge,” said Jasmit Singh, UNITED SIKHS Advocacy Director.  

We believe race and religious identity was a factor in the targeting of Parmjit Singh. UNITED SIKHS thinks the judge made a hasty, biased, and a rushed conclusion in dismissing the case.  Paramjit Singh’s case is a case of gross negligence.  

In an October 2020 assessment by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf declared that white supremacist violent extremists “have been exceptionally lethal in their abhorrent, targeted attacks in recent years.”

Legal Director Wanda Sanchez Day said, “We have serious concerns as a Civil rights activists; whether investigations of race supremacists and domestic terrorists involvement are taken seriously and accurately investigated. We hope, in this case, the truth will surface, and justice is served to the family.”

“Indications of race and or religious hate motives are present in this case.  It was raised initially to the DA and authorities in 2019 days after the murder”, states Jasmit Singh. 

There are over ten white supremacist groups in and around the neighboring area.  Tracy, CA has a dark hidden history as being the epicenter of the National Socialist White People’s Party, originally the American Nazi Party, and other Neofascist group aliases.  

Tracy garnered national attention in 1978, from a documentary that aired on 60 minutes called “The California Reich,” put together by two Stanford students, aired on CBS. “Tracy P.O. Box E-C” was also known and recalled as neo-Nazi headquarters.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the Sikh community and anything we can do to assist in the investigation; we will work with Tracy PD if they need assistance with anything we would be more willing to help”, exclaimed Sheriff San Joaquin County Pat Withrow.

UNITED SIKHS thanks the Tracy Police Department, District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar of San Joaquin County, and the U.S. Department of Justice in its attempt to continue to solve the murder.

We also thank the local community members for taking up the cause with the local government. In particular we want to recognize the following list of Tracy community leadership team that joined locally for the fight for justice for Parmjit Singh:- Simran Kaur- Tracy School Board; Raj Singh- Park and reaction commission; Gurtej S Atwal Deep Singh- Secretary ( Gurdwara Nanak Prakash ) Tracy; Taranjit S. Sandhu -Art Commission city of Tracy; Kuljit S Nijjar -Advisor, UNITED SIKHS; Ranjit S. Gill – Businessman; Harry Dhillon -Rajinder Singh Sekhon- Sikh human rights activist; Parminder S. Shahi – Planning Commission city of Manteca ; Gulwinder  Singh-Ex President; Stockton Gurdwara Sahib ; Jagjit Singh Rakkar-local activist ; Manjit S Uppal local leader; Ravinder S Dhaliwal; Amerjit singh Tung – Secretary, Gurdwara Sahib Stockton; Gurnam Singh Manteca; Mike Gill – Local Business man; Amrit Singh Tiwana – President Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar, Lodi, CA; Harnek S Atwal -Ex president Stockton Gurdwara Sahib; and Balbhader Singh – Secretary ( Lodi Gurdwara Sahib);Surinder S Atwal – President ( Lodi Gurdwara Sahib) 

UNITED SIKHS Advocacy Director:
Jasmit Singh
law-usa@unitedsikhs.org