Man indicted for hate crime

Gilbert Augustin, the man who allegedly killed Jasmer Singh, 66, after a fender bender on Oct. 19, was arraigned Tuesday, the Queens District Attorney’s Office said.

Augustin, 30, who was driving with a suspended license, was charged in a 20-count indictment with first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime and seconddegree assault as a hate crime, the DA’s Office said.

According to the charges, Singh was driving on the Van Wyck Expressway before colliding with Augustin’s vehicle. The two men pulled over in front of 87-34 Van Wyck Exwy., near the border of Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill.

Augustin alledgedly approached Singh and engaged in a verbal dispute, repeatedly referring to Singh, a Sikh, as “Turban man,” according to a witness.

the location, especially following the death of 24-year-old Kimberly Ortega in 2021.

The Ozone Park Residents Block Association plans to host a ribbon cutting with Ortega’s family in attendance once construction on the area is complete, according to group President Sam Esposito.

— Kristen Guglielmo

Augustin punched Singh three times in the head and face, the charges said, with one punch causing Singh’s turban to fly off his head. He fell and hit his head, suffering a brain injury as a result. He died the next day.

Augustin fled the scene but was caught by police the following day. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison. Q

— Kristen Guglielmo