Sacramento Sikh Community Surprised By Arrest Of Shooting Suspect
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - The FBI says one of their most-wanted fugitives has been caught and will be on his way back to the US to face charges in a deadly shooting at a local Sikh sports tournament in 2008.
The suspect, Amandeep Singh Dhami, was found living halfway around the world.
The investigation seemed to hit a dead end. But finally, investigators got the break they needed when Dhami was arrested in India.
"Everybody's surprised -- after five years, they arrest him," said Dhadda Singh Surinder, with the Sacramento Sikh Society.
There is surprise and some measure of relief in Sacramento's Sikh community.
"Very, very terrible. You know, it's a temple," said Surinder.
Spectators from that day, on August 31, 2008, recount the terrifying moments when the shooting happened.
It was at a sports festival held on the Sikh Society's grounds in Sacramento. Parmjit Pamma Singh was killed and another man critically wounded.
One of the other shooters was caught -- held down by spectators. He was tried and convicted, but Dhami got away. Over the years, the FBI says, sources speculated he fled north of the border to Canada, but it turns out he was allegedly living under an assumed name in India. He was finally arrested Friday night.
"If they have to do something, they should go outside, not in the temple property," said Surinder.
Members of the temple believe the argument leading up to the shooting was gang-related. They say it never should've taken place here in what is supposed to be a place of peace.
Dhami was arrested by Indian authorities. The FBI says at some point he'll be returned to the US to face justice for the murder.
