2025-08-29T15:28:00Z

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Imagine witnessing a man in a blue turban, wielding a sword in the middle of a busy Los Angeles intersection. Sounds like a scene from a movie, right? But this shocking incident turned deadly when police shot Gurpreet Singh, a 35-year-old Sikh man, during what was supposed to be a display of his cultural heritage through Gatka, a traditional Sikh martial art.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) recently released bodycam footage from that fateful day, raising critical questions about police use of force and potential cultural misunderstandings. On July 13, shortly after 9 a.m., at the intersection of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard, Singh stopped his car in the middle of traffic, exited, and began swinging a sword—described by the police as a machete, although many identified it as a double-edged sword used in Gatka.

Witnesses reported seeing Singh in a vest, shorts, and his iconic blue turban, seemingly performing martial arts movements with the blade. However, as he waved the sword, he accidentally cut his face, which added to the chaos of the moment. A flurry of 911 calls flooded the LAPD, with witnesses claiming Singh was threatening passersby, which ultimately led to a rapid police response.

This incident has left the community reeling and sparked a fervent debate over the appropriateness of police actions and the potential for cultural misinterpretation. The tragic outcome shines a light on the critical need for cultural awareness within law enforcement and the importance of understanding the context behind such displays.