08/09/2007
One of Two Suspects Caught in Hate Crime Killing of Satendar Singh
Authorities have apprehended one suspect in the homophobic July killing of Fijian-immigrant Satendar Singh, and the FBI is reportedly assisting in the pursuit of an additional fugitive overseas.
Aleksandr Shevchenko, 21, has been arrested and appeared in Sacramento Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon to face charges of involuntary manslaughter and intimidating and interfering with a victim's rights. Shevchenko posted bail and was released Wednesday night but was scheduled to return to court on August 22 after his arraignment was postponed.
Shevchenko and the other suspect, 29-year-old Andrey Vusik of West Sacramento, reportedly attacked Singh, 25, while he was picnicking with friends over the Independence Day holiday after taunting him over his race and sexuality. Friends claim Singh's attackers made racial and homophobic remarks to Singh before assaulting him with what some claim were a pair of brass knuckles. Singh fell to the ground bleeding and died four days later in the hospital. [Background]
The Sacramento Bee reports: "Another witness, Folsom resident Wolfgang Chargin, earlier spoke with The Bee about the incident. He said he had watched an increasingly angry interaction that day at Lake Natoma, in which two groups were shouting. Chargin said the Russian-speaking group seemed especially offended by Singh, 26, who was dancing with both men and women. At one point, Chargin said, Singh's party went into the water and a man from the other group walked over and spit on their blankets. The man then went to the lake's edge and shouted something at Singh's group that they seemed to find especially shocking, Chargin said. Chargin said he did not hear the anti-gay and racial slurs Singh's group later reported to authorities. Sheriff's officials have said that both Singh's party and Vusik's group exchanged verbal jabs for several hours that day."
Vusik, the fugitive suspect, is reportedly in eastern Europe or Russia and has told relatives that he is returning to the U.S. "once a business transaction was completed involving his export car business." Vusik is allegedly the suspect who delivered the blow to Singh's face.
Said FBI investigator Steven Dupre of the pursuit: "Our role is just to find the fugitive and bring him back. The process can get a little involved. It gets more complicated if the person is a citizen of that country -- then it can take longer."
FBI Aids Suspect Hunt [sacramento bee]
One arrested, one sought in death of Fijian immigrant [san francisco chronicle]
Suspect's Sister: Death "Not a Hate Crime" [news10 sacramento]
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Posted 11:02 AM EST by Andy in Crime, Gay Slurs, News, Sacramento | Permalink
Comments
The same lovely people causing mayhem at gay rights events in Eastern Europe are now bringing their delightful brand of fun over here.
Three evangelical Eastern bloc-ers beat Micah Painter to a pulp here in Seattle a few years ago, and the beat (pun intended) goes on.
At least their penchant for counterfeit Prada bling makes them easier to spot...
Posted by: Becks07 | Aug 9, 2007 11:21:30 AM
Becks07: LOL @ the Prada joke... and I agree, it's infuriating...
I'm sure there is more to this that I read, but I'd like to know why his friends didn't at least step in while Singh was taking a beating. This reminds me of the Kitty Genovese and Dominique Dunne murders, in which people stood by and did nothing while one individual was physical harmed and killed. The Kitty Genovese murder lead to the "Bystander Effect" in social psychology, in which people avoid a situation and more often play the "what am I supposed to do" card, either way an innocent life was lost and humanity had proven just how callous people can be... on both sides.
Posted by: Cory | Aug 9, 2007 12:05:47 PM
BECKS07, you're right. In the 80s, a fundamentalist radio station promised Sacramento as a heaven-on-earth for Slavic individuals looking to immigrate. Reality never matches the promise, and Sacramento's established gay community has been the largest target of backlash from this particular grouping of Slavic immigrants.
Rallying has been solidly on behalf of the lgbt community, even including Muslim leaders contributing $500 to a reward fund to find the attackers.
CORY, I think the attack when like this: one hit, Singh fell, hit his head, died from the injuries. There really wasn't an opportunity for a Bystander Effect.
It'll be interesting to see if authorities charge a hate crime when Vusik returns.
Posted by: Aaron | Aug 9, 2007 12:56:05 PM
I hate to read of crimes like this, but I sometimes notice a common element. When threats are made, call the police and leave the area or seek immediate safety. There is no shame in doing that. I have read other hate crime incidents where the victim tried to ignore the threats and ended up being bashed. I'm most certainly not blaming the victim, just saying that it's best to get the hell out of there and immediately call the police!
Posted by: busytimmy | Aug 9, 2007 1:58:19 PM
Fry these ignorrant bastards
Posted by: Eric Frederick | Aug 9, 2007 6:31:02 PM
I blame it on Stalin. If the cheap SOB had just build a gulag of no return and filled it with Slavic orthodox and fundamentalist 'true believer' pastors, priests and bishops, we wouldn't have this problem.
We'll just have to wait for the thrid American Revolution to 'reeducate' these superstitious bigoted swine and their American littermates.
Posted by: Bill Perdue | Aug 9, 2007 8:41:45 PM
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