Assembly to look at killing

More than four months have passed since Satender Singh lost his life at Lake Natoma after what his friends and family say were hours of harassment, rising tensions and a slew of racial and anti-gay slurs that culminated in a fatal punch.

In the months since Singh's death, the key suspect in the crime remains at large, and a dialogue on hate crime has gained new momentum.

And today, lawmakers will take a closer look at how these crimes are reported and whether public safety needs to be improved at state parks like Lake Natoma in Folsom, where signs of a fight brewed for hours before Singh was punched on July 1.

"The Satender Singh case is obviously the starting point," said Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park, chairman of the Assembly Select Committee on Hate Crimes, who is holding the afternoon forum at the Capitol. "Are we doing all that we can to provide the resources to the public and to those who protect the public in a state park?"

A witness at Lake Natoma that day called 911 on his cell phone to report growing tensions between a group of Fijian and East Indians, including Singh, and a Russian-speaking family. His call was routed to the California Highway Patrol, then to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, although the park is state property.

Responding deputies searched for the fracas for 20 minutes in vain, and later learned that the incident was unfolding on the other side of the lake.

About three hours later, Singh was punched. He fell backward and fatally damaged a part of his brain. He was taken off life support on July 5.

For friends of Singh, not a day goes by when they don't think about the 26-year-old's unique laugh, his meticulous attire and his down-home love of chicken tenders. They continue to post messages on his Web page, sending kisses, holiday wishes and expressing hope to their friend that justice will be served.

For authorities, the usual machinations of court appearances and delays are under way for Aleksandr Shevchenko, 21, one of the men at the park that day and the only one charged with a hate crime. His preliminary hearing is scheduled to start on Nov. 27.

The FBI continues its search overseas for Andrey Vusik, the 29-year-old West Sacramento auto businessman whom officials believe fled to Russia days after Singh's death.

His family, who spoke to The Bee over the summer, maintained Vusik's innocence and alleged it was Singh's group that instigated the tensions by dancing provocatively and using foul language – an account dismissed by Singh's friends who were with him that day.

Vusik is still wanted on an arrest warrant for involuntary manslaughter and a hate crime for his role in an incident community groups say single-handedly ripped open long festering wounds between Sacramento's gay community and some members of a Slavic evangelical movement that endorses homophobia and strong anti-gay rhetoric.

"Word to Russia" broadcaster Michael Lokteff, who has ties to the local Slavic pastors association, over the months has disavowed any direct connection between the churches and what happened that day at the park.

Lokteff said many community members have shifted their focus to some of the more recent gay-friendly legislation and are working to develop a stronger relationship with other conservative Christian groups.

As far as the Singh "incident, or crime as some people wish to call it," he said it is best for the courts to decide.

"Naturally, the hope of the Slavic community, at least, is that Aleksandr would be set free," he said.

Members of the Satender Justice Coalition, the community group formed shortly after Singh's death that includes lawmakers, Asian American activists and members of the local gay community, have met with the sheriff, the district attorney and the FBI. The group helped broach the idea for the state hearing on hate crime.

Darrick Lawson, former president of the Stonewall Democratic Club, is expected to speak at today's forum.

The months after Singh's death, he said, have forced him to question whether he, as an active member of the gay community, could have done more to prevent such an eruption of violence, a byproduct he sees of the simmering tensions between gays and Slavic organizations that had been escalating for over a year.

He said he is proud of the public awareness raised on hate crimes but believes a stronger anti-gay movement from a fringe of local evangelicals is under way.

Just last week, a group of protesters shouted rants and hoisted signs outside Lawson's home, as he hosted a fundraiser for state Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento.

"Who will be next?" he asked.

Today's hearing is set for 1:30 to 4 p.m. in Room 447 of the Capitol.

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Crystal Carreon, (916) 321-1203.