Elk Grove continued to struggle Sunday with the unexplained shootings last week of two retired friends taking their afternoon walk.

Surinder Singh, 67, died in Friday's shooting on East Stockton Boulevard. His friend Gurmej Atwal, 78, who was shot twice in the chest, remained in critical condition Sunday.

Police said it may have been a hate crime.

The violence has prompted Elk Grove Mayor Steve Detrick and other civic leaders to arrange a meeting with representatives of Elk Grove's Sikh community, possibly as early as today, to hear their concerns and help formulate a response.

The shooting happened not far from the mayor's home, and Detrick said he had often seen the two victims walking together as part of their daily routine.

"People are very, very upset," he said. "Nobody's been able to find reasons behind such a tragic event."

Gurjatinder Randhawa, editor of the Elk Grove-based Sikh newspaper Punjab Mail USA, said some are afraid of taking walks.

At a Sikh temple Sunday, he said some members suggested no longer wearing traditional dress outdoors as a way to protect themselves from attack.

"That's the only way we can save ourselves," proponents argued, Randhawa said. "Some people – they were not happy with that," he said.

Funeral services for Singh are being planned for Saturday, he said.

Meanwhile, Atwal was listed in critical but stable condition Sunday at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Kamaljit Atwal said his father's condition had improved and family members were hopeful.

"He's responsive," the son said, but tubes in his father's throat prevented him from speaking about the crime.

Elk Grove police had no suspects Sunday, but the department did release a description of a truck that was seen in the area after the shooting.

The vehicle was described as a tan or light brown 1999 to 2003 Ford F150 pickup truck

Officer Christopher Trim, a department spokesman, said the department had notified the FBI that they "may be investigating a bias motivated crime" that violates both state and federal laws.

Herb Brown, special agent in charge at the Sacramento FBI office, said his office will be working in close coordination with the Elk Grove Police Department to support the investigation.

Many hope that a large reward will help break the case. Nearly $20,000 was collected at Sikh temples over the weekend as a reward for information leading to arrests, Randhawa said.

On Sunday the Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations offered a $5,000 reward for tips.

It noted that Sikhs, who follow their own religion, have been mistaken for Muslims.

Sikh men in beards and turbans are targeted by those who make that mistake, the group's executive director, Basim Elkarra, said in a written statement.

"The Muslim community offers its condolences and support to the Sikh community in this time of sorrow," he said.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call the Elk Grove Police Department Communication Center (916) 714-5115 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357).

Callers to Crime Alert can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Tips can also be sent via SMS text message by entering CRIMES (274637) on a cell phone, followed by Tip732 and the message.

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