The Los Angeles office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed the arrest of a suspect in connection with the recent violent attack allegedly targeting an elderly Sikh man in broad daylight in North Hollywood earlier this month.
SEE:
- LAPD arrests suspect who allegedly beat a man outside Sikh Gurdwara
- Elderly Sikh man beaten nearly to death with a golf club in L.A. But was it a hate crime?
Yesterday, Aug. 12, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) arrested a man identified as Bo Richard Vitagliano for assault with a deadly weapon. Vitagliano is suspected of brutally beating 70-year-old Harpal Singh with a golf club near the Sikh Gurdwara of Los Angeles on Aug. 4.
Singh was hospitalized for his injuries and is in critical condition following the attack. He remains unresponsive and has been unable to provide a full statement to investigators.
The LAPD issued a statement announcing the arrest and noted that the incident is not currently being investigated as a hate crime.
CAIR-LA previously condemned the attack and called on the LAPD to investigate hate as a potential motivator for the attack.
CAIR-LA joins The Sikh Coalition and dozens of advocacy, civil rights, legal, community, and faith-based organizations in signing a joint letter calling on the LAPD and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s (DA) Office to clarify how they determined that bias was not a factor in the assault, and to re-evaluate the case as a potential hate crime.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“We welcome the arrest of a suspect in the disturbing attack against Singh—but accountability doesn’t end here. Violence against any community, especially those facing an alarming increase in targeted hate nationwide, must be met with full scrutiny. Until Singh can give his full testimony, it is irresponsible to rule out the possibility of hate as a factor in this brutal assault.
“We continue to call on the LAPD and the DA’s Office to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the attack and to consider hate as a potential motivator.”
Anyone who may have witnessed the attack or has information that may aid the investigation is encouraged to contact the LAPD at (877) 275-5273.
To report any bias incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714) 776-1177 (ext. 2) or click here to file a report.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com