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Dispute over parking spot at California Petro leads to attempted homicide, sheriff’s office says

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Dispute over parking spot at California Petro leads to attempted homicide, sheriff’s office says
Deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office were called to a Petro station on Gonzaga Road in Santa Nella, California, Friday, Sept. 18, in response to a stabbing. (Courtesy: Merced County Sheriff’s Office)

SANTA NELLA, Calif. — A Sacramento truck driver has been arrested on charges of attempted homicide after an altercation about a parking stop at a truck stop ended in a stabbing.

Kuldeep Sandhu
Kuldeep Sandhu (Courtesy: Merced County Sheriff’s Office)

At about 9 a.m. local time Friday, Sept. 18, Merced County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Petro 2 Truck Stop on Gonzaga Road in Santa Nella, California, in response to a stabbing, according to a Facebook post by the department.

When deputies arrived, they found the victim, who was not identified in the post, bleeding from multiple stab wounds to the head, neck, arm and chest. The suspect, Kuldeep Sandhu, of Sacramento was covered in blood and was being restrained by a bystander, the post states.

Deputies were told that the victim and suspect, both truck drivers, got into a verbal argument over a parking spot at the gas pumps. During the argument, Sandhu allegedly produced a ceremonial knife and began stabbing the victim.

Ceremonial Knife
This ceremonial knife was allegedly used in a stabbing during an argument over a parking spot. (Courtesy: Merced County Sheriff’s Office)

The victim was flown to a local hospital in critical condition. Sandhu was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail on charges of attempted homicide.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office asks that anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to the department’s investigations bureau at 209-385-7472.

linda gardner bunch

Linda Garner-Bunch has been in publishing for more than 30 years. You name it, Linda has written about it. She has served as an editor for a group of national do-it-yourself publications and has coordinated the real estate section of Arkansas’ only statewide newspaper, in addition to working on a variety of niche publications ranging from bridal magazines to high-school sports previews and everything in between. She is also an experienced photographer and copy editor who enjoys telling the stories of the “Knights of the Highway,” as she calls our nation’s truck drivers.

Avatar for Linda Garner-Bunch
Linda Garner-Bunch has been in publishing for more than 30 years. You name it, Linda has written about it. She has served as an editor for a group of national do-it-yourself publications and has coordinated the real estate section of Arkansas’ only statewide newspaper, in addition to working on a variety of niche publications ranging from bridal magazines to high-school sports previews and everything in between. She is also an experienced photographer and copy editor who enjoys telling the stories of the “Knights of the Highway,” as she calls our nation’s truck drivers.
For over 30 years, the objective of The Trucker editorial team has been to produce content focused on truck drivers that is relevant, objective and engaging. After reading this article, feel free to leave a comment about this article or the topics covered in this article for the author or the other readers to enjoy. Let them know what you think! We always enjoy hearing from our readers.

10 Comments

No one has the right to disrespect the sikh turban (dastaar).
Taking off a sikh’s turban is like ripping of someone’s cloth which is totally un-acceptable, so I would say what he did was self-defense

An open investigation on the one who took off sikh man’s turban should be done.
Sikhs are one of the best people and i know how bad it is to disrespect their religion….
so ge should be released

What he did was self-defense and none of the two news reports I have found on this incident say anything about the injured man who assaulted him first. That part of the story is being completely covered up. Why? Is it because the accused is a man of color? I am wondering if the accused even made his point because he is guilty of doing what he did because Sikh people are very religious. What he did was self-defense and I don’t if anyone in his family is even fighting for him. Saddened over this incident.

It may be the driver parked and went inside and the other one seen he was taken to long so he had room and slid in front we don’t have all the story so don’t say what you don’t know and l have seen alot of driver of different coltures do that park in fuel Lane and spent up to half hour to. Hour there eating showering and it shows they are just lazzy

I believe Sikh are brave, they are usually calm. If you remove their turban or disturb their peace then it like you are playing with Lion. You will definitely loose and is like suicide.
This is what seems to have happened in this case.

culprit should be punished#We are living in civilised country so we have to behave accordingly.No one is above the law

He wasn’t acquitted you can check on the Merced county court website. You wish he was acquitted because it’s an attempt to murder not self-defense. Check public records next hearing is on Jan 6th defendant still retained.

https://jpportal.mercedcourt.org/MERCEDPROD/Home/Dashboard/29

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