Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal, two Sikh-American grandfathers who were killed during a morning walk.
Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal, two Sikh-American grandfathers who were killed during a morning walk.

ELK GROVE, Calif. (Diya TV) — The city of Elk Grove will soon have a new park, “Singh and Kaur Park” will bear the names of two Sikh-American grandfathers who were shot to death while taking their afternoon stroll back in 2011.

On Wednesday night, the Elk Grove City Council approved a resolution to name the new five-acre open-space park site after the two men and their families, according to local NBC affiliate KCRA.

“The people of Elk Grove embraced these families and the Sikh community in the difficult days after this tragedy. In the five years that have passed, it is clear that the bond has grown even stronger,” said Amar Shergill, an American Sikh Public Affairs Association board member. “We are hopeful that, by keeping alive the memories of these beloved grandfathers, a witness may be motivated to come forward, bring the murderers to justice, and collect a $57,000 reward,” he added.

On March 4, 2011, Gurmej Singh Atwal, 78, and Surinder Singh, 65, who both wore proudly their long beards and turbans in tradition with their Sikh faith, were walking along Elk Grove’s Stockton Boulevard when an unknown assailant shot at them. Police believe the gunfire came from a gold or tan lifted pickup truck.

Singh died on the scene, Atwal about a month later.

The case remains unsolved, and police have never been able to determine a motive for the crimes.

“Our detectives are still working leads that occasionally come in,” Elk Grove assistant police chief Bryan Noblett said. “As you might imagine, that’s slowed down, unfortunately, over the years. But it’s still an open case, and we’re still encouraging anyone with any information on this case to please bring it forward.”

Kevin Bewsey explained the name of the park in a staff report to the Elk Grove City Council: “The proposed name ‘Singh and Kaur Park’ is in memorial for the two men that have passed and in recognition of their families they leave behind and the community that embraced them. The use of both ‘Singh’ and ‘Kaur’ was proposed to represent not only the men who had died but also the wives they left behind. It is important to note that ‘Kaur’ is the common last name used for women in the culture of the Sikh community.”

A $57,000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to an arrest, and construction of the $2 million park is expected to begin in 2018.