Public Memorial For Second Sikh Shooting Victim Set For Saturday

The memorial for Gurmej Atwal, the second of two elderly Sikh men , will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Sacramento Memorial Lawn.

Atwal, 78, after being on life support for several weeks. He and his friend, 65-year-old Surinder Singh, were shot by an unidentified man in early March while walking along East Stockton Boulevard. Singh died shortly after the attack.

Amar Shergill, a community leader and Sikh attorney who speaks on behalf of the victims' families, said the memorial will be open to the public. Members of the Sikh community outside of Sacramento will also pay their respects to Atwal.

"Atwal left behind his children and grandchildren and his friends. They've all been very brave," Shergill said. "There's no way to rationalize or explain why they're victims of such a horrible event."

Now investigating a double homicide, the Elk Grove Police Department has focused its search on a male shooter, possibly driving a tan Ford F150 pickup truck.

Shergill said Crime Alert Sacramento is receiving donations from the public, and has offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the suspect. People can provide tips anonymously.

The Sacramento Memorial Lawn is located at 6100 Stockton Blvd.