A Sikh man identified as Gurpreet Singh was fatally shot by Los Angeles police after a confrontation in downtown LA, with the department recently releasing bodycam footage of the July incident. Singh, 35, was performing gatka—a traditional Sikh martial art—in the middle of a busy intersection near Crypto.com Arena when officers responded to reports of a man wielding a large blade.
According to the LAPD, Singh was armed with what they described as a machete and refused repeated commands to drop the weapon. The video shows Singh, dressed in a vest, shorts, and a blue turban, holding a double-edged sword resembling a khanda, commonly used in gatka demonstrations.
The Confrontation
Police reports say officers attempted to negotiate before Singh cut his tongue with the blade, threw a bottle, and tried to escape in his car. During the chase, he allegedly drove erratically, hitting multiple vehicles while brandishing the sword from his car window.
The pursuit ended when Singh exited the vehicle and, according to officers, charged toward them with the weapon. Police opened fire, critically injuring him. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
Gatka, a centuries-old martial art rooted in Sikh tradition, incorporates weapons such as swords, sticks, and spears, and is typically performed at cultural and religious events.
The incident has raised questions over the police response and the distinction between cultural practice and perceived threat in public spaces.
Conversation
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