The Westchester Family Massacre: Lone Survivor's Shocking Account [True Crime]
The tragic events of April 28, 2019, forever changed the quiet community of Westchester, Ohio, when four family members were found fatally shot in their lakefront apartment. The massacre left only one survivor, 37-year-old Gerrit Singh, who discovered his wife, father-in-law, mother, and aunt-in-law dead upon returning home that evening. The horrific scene contained no signs of struggle or attempted cleanup, leaving investigators with more questions than answers.
When police arrived minutes after neighbors reported hearing gunshots, they found Singh in a state of shock outside the apartment. Inside, officers discovered the bodies of his wife Shalinder (39), her mother Parm, aunt Ammer (58), and father Hakaka. Forensic analysis revealed all victims were killed with the same 9mm handgun, which fired a total of 16 shots. Singh, visibly distressed and covered in blood, maintained he discovered the bodies after returning from working on his semi-truck, while his children were safely at a cousin's home.
Key Takeaways
Four family members were systematically executed in their Westchester home while the lone survivor, Gerrit Singh, was reportedly away working on his truck.
Police found no signs of struggle, forced entry, or cleanup attempts at the scene where 16 shots were fired from a 9mm handgun.
Despite initially appearing incoherent and in shock, Singh provided details about his movements and claimed to have had an amicable relationship with all household members.
Crime Scene Incident
Emergency Notification and First Response
Multiple 911 calls came in around 9:40 p.m. on April 28, 2019, from residents at the lakefront apartment complex in Westchester, Ohio. Callers reported a distressed man banging on doors, desperately asking neighbors to contact authorities. The man eventually made his own frantic call to emergency services, though his speech was difficult to understand through his panicked state.
Officers from Westchester Police Department promptly arrived at the scene. They found 37-year-old Gerit Singh waiting outside his family's apartment unit. Police initially approached with caution, ordering him to the ground and placing him in handcuffs as a precautionary measure.
The responding officers noted visible blood on Gerit's hands and clothing. Despite his handcuffed state, he continued pleading for help for his family inside the apartment.
Initial Contact with Gerit Singh
When officers first encountered Gerit, he appeared extremely distressed and struggled to communicate clearly. Between sobs, he attempted to explain that he had just returned home to find his family members unresponsive. Officers observed his clothing was bloodstained, which Gerit explained came from holding his wife and attempting to give her water after discovering her.
As the situation stabilized, Gerit began providing more coherent details. He explained he had returned from checking on his semi-truck to find the apartment door wide open. Inside, he discovered all four adult family members injured and unresponsive on various floors of the home.
His responses to initial questioning were slow and confused, consistent with someone in shock. When officers asked direct questions about what happened, Gerit repeatedly expressed confusion and distress, stating he didn't know what had occurred but pleading for help for his family.
Victims' State and Crime Scene
The scene inside the apartment revealed a systematic execution of four family members:
Victim Relationship to Gerit Location Found Injuries Ammer G. Kar Aunt-in-law (58) Hallway floor Two gunshot wounds to the head Shalinder G. Wife (39) Kitchen floor Three gunshot wounds, arm positioned over head Parm Mother-in-law Living room floor Four head wounds, additional wounds on finger and forearm Hakaka Father-in-law Bedroom Eight gunshot wounds to the head
Forensic examination determined all 16 shots came from the same 9mm handgun, though the murder weapon was not found at the scene. Investigators noted several important details:
No signs of struggle from any victim
No evidence of attempted cleanup (no blood on taps, sinks or countertops)
No signs of forced entry
A tea kettle on the stove had burned, triggering the smoke detector
The crime scene suggested the perpetrator had made no effort to conceal the murders. The positioning of the bodies and nature of the wounds indicated a deliberate, execution-style killing rather than a struggle or confrontation.
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Survivor's Testimony
The Initial Response
Gerrit Sing, the sole survivor of the family tragedy, displayed profound distress when police arrived at the Lakefront Apartments in Westchester on April 28, 2019. Blood-covered and distraught, the 37-year-old truck driver had frantically knocked on neighbors' doors before calling 911 himself. When officers secured the scene, they found him outside the apartment, barely coherent as he tried to explain the horrific discovery of his family members.
"I just got home," he repeated to officers, explaining the blood on his hands came from attempting to help his wife. His immediate responses were fragmented, shifting between shock and desperation. Officers noted his confusion as he struggled to process the scene he had discovered upon returning home.
Comprehensive Statement to Investigators
At the police station, Gerrit provided a more structured account of his activities prior to discovering the crime scene. He explained he had left home while it was still daylight to work on his semi-truck parked on Mouser Road. His tasks included fixing a broken taillight and checking oil levels, followed by a stop at UDF for fuel before returning home.
According to Gerrit, he discovered the apartment door wide open upon his return. Inside, he found four family members unresponsive: his wife Shalinder (39), his mother-in-law Parm, his father-in-law Hakaka, and his aunt-in-law Ammer G. Carr (58). He repeatedly asked investigators about his children, aged 3 and 11, who were fortunately at his cousin's home for dinner just a few miles away.
When questioned about family dynamics, Gerrit described harmonious relationships within their multigenerational household. "We live together since I got here in USA and nothing wrong, no problem," he stated, denying any unusual arguments or conflicts. He mentioned previously co-owning a gas station with his father-in-law but provided no indication of business troubles or personal conflicts that might explain the tragedy.
Forensic Examination Results
Crime Scene Assessment
The forensic team found no evidence of struggle at the Westchester apartment where the April 28, 2019 homicides occurred. Officers arrived minutes after neighbors reported gunshots around 9:40 PM. The apartment door was found wide open, with all victims positioned in different areas of the home. A pan of tea had burned on the stove, triggering the smoke detector. Investigators confirmed no signs of forced entry, suggesting the perpetrator was either known to the victims or had authorized access. No evidence of cleanup attempts was discovered - forensic testing revealed no blood residue on taps, sinks, or countertops, indicating the perpetrator made no effort to conceal their actions before departing.
The ballistics examination determined all 16 shots originated from a single 9mm handgun, which was not recovered at the scene. Shell casings were collected as evidence. The first responding officers documented that Gerrit Singh, the sole survivor, had visible blood on his hands and clothing, which he explained came from holding his wife and attempting to give her water after discovering the scene.
Victim Documentation and Trauma Analysis
Four victims were discovered in different locations throughout the apartment:
Victim Age Location Injuries Ammer G. Kaur 58 Hallway near entrance Two gunshot wounds to head Shalinder G. 39 Kitchen floor Three gunshot wounds, arm positioned over head Parm Adult Living room floor Four wounds to head, additional wounds to finger and right forearm Hakaka Adult Bedroom Eight gunshot wounds to head, arms tucked around body
The positioning of the victims and wound patterns suggest a systematic execution-style attack. Hakaka, Gerrit's father-in-law, sustained the most severe trauma with eight head wounds. The blood evidence and body positions indicated the victims were quickly incapacitated without opportunity to defend themselves or flee. No defensive wounds were noted except for Parm's finger and forearm injuries, which possibly occurred while attempting to shield herself from the attack.
Medical examiners confirmed all victims died from their gunshot wounds. None showed signs of responsiveness when Gerrit reported finding them, as they were already deceased when emergency services arrived.
Primary Examination Process
The investigation began immediately after officers discovered the crime scene at the lakefront apartment complex. Police found four deceased family members with multiple gunshot wounds and no signs of forced entry or cleanup attempts. Evidence revealed 16 shots fired from a single 9mm handgun, which was not recovered at the scene.
Interviewing the Remaining Family Member
Officers first encountered Gerit Singh, 37, outside the apartment. He appeared distressed, with visible blood on his hands and clothing. Initially placed in handcuffs as a precaution, Gerit explained the blood came from holding his wife and attempting to give her water. During preliminary questioning, he stated he had just returned home to find the door open and his family unresponsive.
At the police station, detectives placed Gerit in an interview room designed for witnesses rather than suspects. He repeatedly asked to speak with his children—approximately 36 times throughout the interview. When questioned about family relationships, Gerit described harmonious multi-generational living arrangements with no significant conflicts.
Gerit's Pre-Incident Timeline
Gerit provided investigators with his movements on April 28, 2019. He stated he left the apartment in daylight hours to perform maintenance on his semi-truck parked on Mouser Road. Specifically, he mentioned repairing a broken tail light and checking oil levels.
Following the truck maintenance, Gerit reported stopping at a UDF convenience store to purchase fuel before returning home. He noted that his children, ages 3, 8, and 11, were not at the residence during the incident but were having dinner with his cousin who lived a few miles from their apartment complex.
When asked about previous business ventures, Gerit mentioned co-owning a gas station with his father-in-law before their current employment situations. Throughout the interview, he maintained he had no knowledge of who might have committed the crimes or any potential motives.
Personal Background
Gerit Sing, 37, was the sole survivor of a tragic event at his family's lakefront apartment in Westchester, Ohio. When police arrived at the scene on April 28, 2019, they found Gerit outside the apartment, visibly distressed and with blood on his hands and clothing. He explained he had returned home to discover his family members deceased.
Family Structure and Living Arrangement
Gerit lived in a multi-generational household, which he described as normal in his culture. The apartment was home to his wife Shalinder (39), his father-in-law Hakaka, mother-in-law Parm, and his aunt-in-law Ammer Kaur (58). His two children, ages 8 and 11, were fortunately not present during the incident, as they were having dinner at a cousin's home nearby.
Gerit's Relationship with Family
According to Gerit's statements to investigators, he maintained positive relationships with all family members. When questioned specifically about his family dynamics, he insisted there were "no problems" between them. He described their household as harmonious, without even "normal arguments" occurring.
Gerit appeared deeply concerned about his children throughout his police interview, requesting to speak with them 36 times. His emotional state during questioning showed significant distress about his family members, repeatedly asking officers if they could help them.
Family Dynamics
The household operated as a cohesive unit according to Gerit's account. When asked about potential conflicts or business dealings that might have created tension, Gerit mentioned only that he and his father-in-law had previously owned a gas station together.
Prior to the incident, daily life in the home appeared routine. On the evening of the tragedy, a pot of tea had been left on the stove, suggesting the family was engaged in normal activities when violence erupted. Gerit described his routine that day as including maintenance work on his semi-truck and stopping for gas before returning home to make the horrific discovery.
