By Dustin Brown
One of the suspected murderers of a Richmond Hill man who was killed after offering a ride to passengers in a stranded car on the Belt Parkway turned himself into police Monday afternoon, police said,
The 26-year-old victim, who graduated from St. John’s University in January, was honored at a mass Tuesday at the Jamaica campus.
Jack Govan, 26, of Brooklyn, surrendered to police at the 77th Precinct in Brooklyn at 12:30 p.m. Monday after extensive media coverage reported his suspected involvement in the murder of Rupinder Singh early Friday morning, police said.
“His basic statement to us when he gave himself up was he felt he had no place to go,” Chief of Detectives William Allee said Monday night. “Every place he looked he saw the police or he saw his picture. He felt the smartest thing for him was to come into the precinct and surrender, which he did.”
Singh, 26, offered a ride to five people who were stranded in Brooklyn after their car broke down at a Belt Parkway gas station early Friday.
Singh was forced out of his 2000 blue Lincoln Navigator at gunpoint, placed on the ground and allegedly shot by Govan and James Johnson, 26, of Atlanta, Ga., the criminal complaint said. The defendants then allegedly drove off in Singh’s vehicle.
Both Govan and Johnson were charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and robbery, while Johnson was also charged with first-degree murder.
They were accompanied in the car by Darshen Kingsberry, 26, who was charged with criminal possession of stolen property and hindering prosecution, the DA said. Kingsberry’s 3-year-old daughter was also with them, along with a fifth person not identified by police.
Police discovered Singh’s body early Friday morning on the ground at Lincoln Terrace Park in Brooklyn after hearing a report of a person shot.
“He was dragged out of the car. We believe that he pled for his life, he pled for mercy,” Allee said. “This was a monstrous act that was committed against a good Samaritan, someone who was trying to help those people out.”
Brooklyn District Attorney spokesman Orlando Rivera said only one of the defendants, Johnson, would be eligible for the death penalty. The DA’s office has 120 days following the crime to determine whether to seek the death penalty, he said.
Singh, a Richmond Hill resident who emigrated from India, graduated from St. John’s University with a B.S. degree in computer science in January as a member of the Class of 2000, university spokesman Jody Fisher said. Among his achievements at the university was distinguishing himself as one of only three students to receive an “A” in an advanced computer course with over 25 students, Fisher said.
Singh’s memory was honored at the daily noon mass held Tuesday at St. John’s University, where Rev. Michael Cummins told the parable of the Good Samaritan — a story he said was exemplified by the selfless deed which led to Singh’s death.
Following the mass, Singh’s friend and his sister spoke highly of a person whose life was characterized by the performance of selfless deeds just like the one that cost him his life.
“He was such a good friend,” said Jimmy Kallikadan, 23, a fellow computer science major who had known Singh since their sophomore year of college. “When we went out, if someone needed help, he wouldn’t hesitate to help them.”
Singh’s sister, Gupreet Kur, 23, said the family was advocating that the death penalty be sought for her brother’s killers.
“They could just let him go,” she said. “Why did they have to shoot him? If they wanted the car, they could have taken the car and left him alone.”
She also spoke of a brother who never hesitated to help people out, especially if they were disabled or if children were involved.
“He was very nice,” she said. “He always helped everyone out and he would always smile.”
Reach reporter Dustin Brown by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 154.
