Los Angeles, California, USA:  A preliminary hearing was held in North Hollywood, California, for Bo Richard Vitagliano, who has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury in the violent attack on 70-year-old Harpal Singh. Singh, who remains in critical condition, was beaten with a golf club near the Sikh Gurdwara of LA on August 4.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that Vitagliano, a 44-year-old unhoused man with a lengthy criminal history involving weapons and drug offences, was arrested shortly after the assault. While prosecutors have not yet added hate crime charges, the District Attorney’s office stated they are open to pursuing them if additional evidence emerges.

Singh’s family attended the court proceedings alongside Sikh advocacy groups, including the Sikh Coalition and SALDEF. Community leaders welcomed the DA’s serious handling of the case and urged consideration of hate crime charges if warranted, while expressing continued concern and support for Singh as his condition remains critical.