Lead suspect in alleged hate crime still missing

Federal agents continued their overseas search Monday for the primary suspect in the alleged hate-crime killing of Satender Singh, looking to bring the West Sacramento man back to face charges.

"We are in daily contact with our international resources who are actively working this investigation," said Special Agent Steven Dupre of the FBI's Sacramento Division. "We're hopeful that Mr. Vusik will decide to turn himself in."

Andrey Vusik, 29, was recently identified by authorities as the man who allegedly punched Singh at Lake Natoma last month and then left the country after the Fijian man's death. He is sought on a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and a hate crime. Investigators believe Vusik is in Russia.

In an earlier interview with The Bee, Vusik's wife, Tatyana, said her husband was abroad on business related to exporting cars. She said that business was expected to be finished Aug. 10 and that Vusik would then come home. In a later interview, she was less specific on when her husband would return.

Through a translator last week, Vusik's mother also told The Bee she was "absolutely sure" Vusik would return once his business was completed. She said she believed he would get a fair trial, that the truth would come out, and that Singh's death was an accident -- not a hate crime.

On Monday, Vusik's wife and other relatives declined to speak with The Bee. Family members of the other hate-crime suspect, Aleksandr Shevchenko -- who turned himself in last week -- also did not want to be interviewed.

Shevchenko, 21, is scheduled to return to court Aug. 22. He remains free after posting part of a $25,000 bond.

Relatives of both suspects have insisted Singh's death was not intentional. Last week, Vusik's wife said her husband acted in self-defense. The suspects' families have maintained that members of Singh's group were dancing provocatively, using foul language and drinking heavily that Sunday at the park.

Sheriff's investigators have said both groups exchanged verbal jabs for hours, while friends of Singh with him that day have said the "Russian-speaking" group hurled anti-gay epithets and racial taunts before Singh was punched.

Singh died July 5, four days after the confrontation. He fell backward after he was punched, striking his head and rupturing a critical part of his brain stem.

Members of the Satender Justice Coalition, a community group formed after Singh's death, will push for a stringent prosecution of Shevchenko as a hate crime, said Georgette Imura, coalition chair. They also hope Vusik will eventually face justice.

About the writer:

• The Bee's Crystal Carreon can be reached at (916) 321-1203 or ccarreon@sacbee.com.