LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has released bodycam footage capturing the moments that led to the fatal shooting of a Sikh man, Gurpreet Singh, on July 13. The incident, which has drawn widespread attention and scrutiny, shows the man wielding what police have described as a two-foot machete at a busy intersection
Warning: Graphic Details of a Shooting Incident
According to a police statement and the released video, multiple 911 calls were received reporting a man with a large blade acting erratically near Olympic Boulevard. The bodycam footage shows Singh, wearing a vest and a blue turban, in the middle of the road while wielding the sword. Police say they repeatedly instructed him to drop the weapon, but he refused to comply
The situation escalated when Singh allegedly drove off and then, after a short pursuit, charged at officers with the weapon. Officers then opened fire, fatally wounding him. He was taken to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries. While the LAPD maintains that the shooting was in response to a direct threat, some reports and members of the Sikh community have suggested that Singh may have been performing “Gatka,” a traditional Sikh martial art.
The incident is currently under investigation by the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division and the Office of the Inspector General, as per standard procedure for all officer-involved shootings. The release of the bodycam footage is intended to provide transparency, but it has also triggered a renewed debate about police protocols and the potential for misunderstandings involving cultural practices.