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Funeral held for man killed outside Oxnard bank
Crowd of mourners included members of Sikh community
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Family and friends packed a Sikh funeral ceremony Saturday to say goodbye to Gurmohinder Singh, the Oxnard businessman who was slain a week ago outside a bank.
Among them was Vincente Garcia, who took a bus ride from Oxnard to Ventura to pay his last respects to his friend, giving a meek apology for being late. He was a frequent customer at one of several local convenience stores Singh owned with his cousins.
"He was a good man, an honest man who was never angry," Garcia, a field worker, said in Spanish after the service. "He was always joyful when I arrived at the store."
Singh, 55, of Oxnard was robbed and gunned down by an unknown assailant on Aug. 16 outside US Bank on North Oxnard Boulevard.
Saturday, the large crowd filled Ted Mayr Funeral Home before overflowing onto the sidewalk. The service was also packed with members of the Sikh community, dressed in colorful turbans and long flowing white dresses.
A group of family members and others gathered close to the casket, which had a pink and white spray of flowers on top. A cluster of white balloons and a solitary red one was placed next to the casket, which was flanked with large photographs of Singh, who left his native India 19 years ago.
There were tears, religious chants and prayers with many in the crowd responding in unison in Punjabi.
After the funeral service, Singh's body, which was inside a wooden casket, was taken by pallbearers across the street to the Sikh Gurudwara of Ventura County, a religious gathering place that translates to the Guru's Door. A funeral procession was in tow including his grieving widow and family.
Singh's son, 24-year-old Jagdeep Singh, and others told those in attendance that his father was a good father, son, neighbor and deeply religious man.
"He was one in a million," Jagdeep said. He recalled that his father took care of his family from the age of 12 after his father had died.
"He knew responsibility and took care of the whole family," Jagdeep said.
"He worked all day and all night to get us where we are today. He was a really wise man, intelligent and very respectful."
Outside the funeral home, Mehesh Gehani, who knew Singh for 15 years, said he will remember his friend as a "noble, honest and hardworking man."
Garcia said he never had problems communicating with Singh and his son, both of whom spoke good Spanish.
"We call each other primo when I was in the store," Garcia said. The Spanish word means cousin. "He always treated me and everybody else right at his store. That's why he had so many customers."
The city of Oxnard is putting up $10,000, the US Bank $10,000 and Crime Stoppers $1,000 as a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man who killed Singh.
Police ask that anyone with information about the slaying call Detective Michael Young at 385-7606 or leave a message on the Violent Crimes Hotline at 982-7070.
Posted by opns on August 24, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My prayers were with you during the day.
My condolences to you.
Posted by keepin_it_real on August 24, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This brings tears to my eyes. I swear, Mr. Singh looks familiar to me. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. Singh. Truly Sad.
On another note, I hope the reward will help catch the shooter and hopefully the family can have some closure.
May you rest in peace Mr. Singh...... 0:)
Posted by dcsfancy on August 24, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hopefully with the reward money they will get the guy who did this.
Posted by goldeneye on August 24, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What an immense tragedy! Anyone involved in this crime should be tried and executed! This case is the best reason for the death penalty I could ever think of. What pain and suffering this son of Satan caused by taking the life of a good man for a few dollars. What has this world come to? May the killer know that he is destined for eternal damnation and that upon is passing from this world he shall be cast into a lake of fire for eternal punishment!
I will pray for Mr. Singh tonight. I will pray for his family, friends and employees. I will also get on my knees and pray for the policemen who are no doubt working hard to catch the man who did this. Everyone should do the same!
Posted by jill on August 24, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is unbelievable. I can't believe that anyone would actually kill someone for whatever money they have in their pockets.
My deepest sympathy to Mr. Singh's family and friends.
Posted by karslate on August 24, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Our prayers to the family and all involved in the hunt for this scumbag. Mr. Singh will never be forgotten
Posted by vcca on August 24, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My condolences to Mr. Singh's family and friends, he sounds like he was a decent hard-working man. It makes me so angry to think about these worthless punks and gang-bangers taking away good people from this earth!
Posted by Big_family_0099 on August 25, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a shame, that the world can lose a great person. Our family prayers are with you. Bless you & your family & may God & your loved ones comfort you in your time of need.
Posted by Delta_9 on August 26, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this type of crime deserves the DEATH INJECTION because the crime contains special circumstances ie: attempted murder of a COP via gun shot, laying in wait, armed robbery and of course FIRST DEGREE MURDER,and the gang injunction.I urge the citizens to write letters to your congressmen / congresswomen about storing these KILLERS for life or putting death row on hold. (OUTA SITE OUTA MIND seems to be the status quo)
Posted by Scapegoat on August 26, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Mr. Singh they caught your killer. Turns out you were murdered by a low-life criminal gang member. Rest assured he will be tried and jailed, probably for life. He may even get the death penalty. All that justice won't bring you back to your loved ones, perhaps it will offer some solace to them. Maybe just a little. Rest assured Mr. Singh, we celebrate you on these boards. We admired the fact you were a hardworking legal immigrant to this country, that you provided well for your family. We admired your industriousness, your smile and good humored advice to those in need of it. You will be missed. We offer praise to the Oxnard Police Department for their hard work and determination and catching your killer, and we know that if you could, you would join us in celebrating their professionalism is bring that low-life to justice. RIP Mr. Singh.
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