San Jose’s Sikhs React After 3 Are Killed in Shooting Rampage

Hundreds of members of San Jose’s Sikh community gathered at their temple Monday to mourn three victims of a shooting and ask why one of their own would open fire on a group of innocents playing cards in a quiet neighborhood park.

The shooting occurred about 2:45 p.m. Sunday in Overfelt Gardens, a place popular among older Sikh men.

Two groups were playing an Indian version of gin rummy when a gunman approached. After speaking a few threatening words, Ranbir Singh, 43, opened fire, killing three men and wounding three others, San Jose Police Sgt. Steven Dixon said.

A few bystanders immediately subdued the shooter, pinning him to the ground. He died at the scene. Though the cause of death was unclear, police spokeswoman Gina Tepoorten said Singh may have asphyxiated or suffered a heart attack.

Some members of this city’s thriving Sikh community had initially been concerned that the shooting might have been a hate crime, because a number of American Sikhs -- who often wear turbans and are mistaken for Muslims -- have been attacked since Sept. 11, 2001. The community later learned that the gunman was a Sikh.

Police said the motive remained unclear. But Dixon said that Singh “had a lot of personal problems, family problems, money problems. He was out of a job for quite some time. We don’t know for sure if he knew the victims. He certainly targeted them ... and he seemed to blame these guys for his problems.”

Singh’s wife, Balvinder Kaur, told police that Singh, a former airport worker, had been distraught that the couple could not solve their marital problems.

“I don’t think she had any idea he would do anything so bad,” said Annie Dandavati, a community activist who served as translator for Kaur and police.

Like many of the approximately 50,000 Sikhs in San Jose, the three men who were killed were from the Punjab region of India, the traditional homeland for followers of the 500-year-old religion, said Mohinder Mann, a Sikh community activist and San Jose attorney.

Mann said one victim, Kulwant Singh, 45, left a wife, Baljeet Kaur, who speaks little English, and three daughters who attended Mission College in Santa Clara.

Many Sikh men take the last name Singh, and many women take the last name Kaur. While the shooter was not related to any of the victims, police said some of the victims appeared to have been related.

Another victim, Hari Singh, 65, of nearby Milpitas, had worked in real estate until health problems, including diabetes, led him to retire.

Four years ago, he had open-heart surgery, said his son, Kulwant Singh, 44. After his recovery, the son said, “he started doing really well.” He volunteered at senior centers, organizing get-togethers, festivals and luncheons.

Hari Singh “was a very warm, giving person,” the son said. “He was like that all of his life. If someone needed help, he would be over there helping him.”

The third victim, Satnam Singh, 70, also retired, left at least one son, Mann said.

“These were folks who really just loved people, and loved life,” he said. “They loved sharing with young people ... and they loved America.”

Three other men were treated at a hospital for minor injuries and were released. They were Karal Singh, 78; Mohammed Sharif, 62; and Harbans Dhokal, 80, all of San Jose.

Mann said Karal Singh and Dhokal are Sikhs; Sharif is a Muslim.

The shooting comes at an otherwise positive time for San Jose’s Sikhs. Many core members of the community came to the area in the 1970s, working in the technology sector and other professions. Over the years, they outgrew their current temple. A 90,000-square-foot temple is under construction in the city’s Evergreen Hills area.

As part of the mourning process, Sikhs began reading their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, Monday afternoon and will read the 1,400-page volume in its entirety over the next few days.