Trying to save others, Tarn Taran man killed in California shooting

Blurb: 9 others, including shooter, dead; village in mourning

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Gurbaxpuri & PTI

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, May 27

The death of a 36-year-old engineer belonging to Gagrewal village, 50 km from here, in a shooting incident at San Jose in the US state of California, has sent shockwaves in the region.

The victim, Taptejdeep Singh Gill, a baptised Sikh, was employed as a light rail operator at Valley Transportation Authority. He was among 10 persons killed in the shooting.

His co-workers hailed him as a hero, saying he left the office room, where some colleagues were hiding, to help others escape the line of fire.

The shooter, Samuel Cassidy (57), a maintenance worker, had some litigation with the company. He reportedly died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

Taptejdeep’s uncle Sakhwant Dhillon said he was running around the building to save others. “He was a good person. He helped everybody,” he said.

His brother Bagga Singh said he was told that his brother had saved a woman when he “rushed down the stairway”, where he was eventually shot.

Some of the other victims were identified as Paul Delacruz Megia (42), Adrian Balleza (29), Timothy Michael Romo (49), Michael Joseph Rudometkin (40) and Lars Kepler Lane (63).

Back home, Taptejdeep’s cousin Hardial Singh said the family received the news of his demise around 6.30 am on Thursday. “We are shattered. The family had migrated to the US in 2005. Taptejdeep is survived by his wife Harmanpreet Kaur, a three-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter.”

Pawitterpal Singh Nolly Gill, sarpanch, said a large number of residents from nearby villages, including local MLA Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, had expressed grief over the incident.