On Sunday night, October 8, shortly before 9 p.m., an incident at Big Bob’s Liquors and Market on West Puente Avenue in West Covina, California, escalated when two male suspects began stealing merchandise from an outdoor display.
A 34-year-old liquor store clerk, attempting to confront the intruders, was subsequently shot in the upper torso. Bystanders quickly dialed 911 while providing the injured clerk with first aid.
When officers from the West Covina Police Department arrived at the scene, they found the clerk, later identified as Karanvir Singh, with gunshot wounds. Singh was promptly taken to a nearby hospital, where he, unfortunately, did not survive his injuries.
The suspects managed to flee the scene in a light-colored SUV. The specific model remains unidentified.
Details emerging about Singh reveal that he had been in the U.S. for less than a year, working diligently with the aim of saving enough money to bring his wife and 12-year-old son from India to join him. He was the store owner’s brother-in-law.
Those familiar with Singh spoke of his kind nature, mentioning how he consistently treated others with familial warmth and care. The store owner, deeply affected by the loss, has put forward a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the responsible individuals.
Surveillance cameras did capture images of the two male suspects, one of whom, a 17-year-old, has been arrested and will be charged with first-degree murder. The police are optimistic that the video footage will help in identifying and locating the second suspect.
Authorities, including the West Covina Police Department, urge anyone with relevant information to step forward to aid in the ongoing investigation.
