Authorities say the murders of four Sikhs found dead in their Cincinnati apartment does not appear to be a hate crime.
“At this point in the investigation, there is no reason to believe that this is a hate crime,” said West Chester Township spokesperson Barbara Williams to Fox 19.
Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj told Cincinnati.com that she agreed with that assessment.
Police say a man returned home to find his wife and other family members shot on the floor bleeding. All four victims lived together. They have been identified as Hakikat Panag, 59; Paramjit Kaur, 62; Amarjit Kaur, 58; and Shalinder Kaur, 39.
The Indian Embassy is cooperating with the investigation. Children who also lived in the apartment were not home at the time.
“We have been working closely to coordinate communication between the Government of India and the West Chester Police Department. Our prayers remain with the Cincinnati Sikh community during this tragic time,” Daniel Rajaiah, Executive Director, Indian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky said to Fox 19.
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