Indian-origin ice cream vendor shot dead in the US

Los Angeles, Oct 5: A 45-year-old Indian-origin ice cream vendor has been shot dead by an unidentified gunman in the US state of California, prompting police to announce a USD 10,000 reward money for information leading to the arrest of the killer, media reports said.

Jasvir Singh was fatally shot inside his van on Saturday in California's Oakland city, San Jose Mercury News reported.

According to residents of the locality, a gunman approached Singh, shot him inside his van and ran away through the backyards.

Police has announced a reward money of USD 10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the killer. Local residents described the horror of the broad day-light killing and expressed their fears of rising crimes on the streets of Oakland city.

"I don't understand why someone would murder our ice cream man," said Paula, a nearby resident.

"I heard five shots and came to my front door. I just feel really bad; he was doing his job, and now he's gone," she added.

Police were told that Singh immigrated to the US 17 years ago, was unmarried and had a 13-year-old daughter.

He was a resident of Marysville, but also lived in the East Bay area. So far this year, Oakland has recorded 74 homicides -- 15 more than at the same point last year.

PTI