Jasminder Singh drank tea on Sunday morning with the patriarch of a West Chester Township family. Later that night, a shooting would leave four of them dead.

It was an unremarkable conversation at their place of worship that didn’t hint at the tragedy that was to follow.

Singh said Hakikat Panag was one of the four people killed at the apartment complex Sunday evening. At a service Monday evening at the Sikh gurdwara, or place of worship to pray for the family, Singh identified the others killed Sunday as Panag’s wife Paramjit Kaur, his adult daughter Shalinder Kaur, and his sister-in-law Amarjit Kaur. Police did not confirm the identities of the victims at a news conference on Monday.

Singh is the president of the executive committee for the Guru Nanak Society of Greater Cincinnati where he says Panag and his family worshipped every Sunday. The gurdwara in West Chester serves about 800 families, according to officials there.

Singh struggled to understand what happened and asked a journalist what police had told the media. Just a day ago, Panag told him he didn’t have to work weekends anymore, Singh said.

“He seemed happy,” Singh said. “I wish I knew more.”

A few hours after that conversation over tea, Panag and most of his family were dead.

Singh was working at the gas station he owns in Colerain Township when he received a call. After he hung up, he received another.

It was about the man he first met 11 years ago when he moved to West Chester from Kentucky. A generous man, Singh said Panag would give you $5 if you asked him for $1. One person called him three separate times because she couldn’t believe what happened to Panag.

Then he shook his head and wondered aloud about who was going to plan the funeral.

Satinder Bharaj is the past president of the executive board and a board member. He washed dishes with him at the gurudwara Sunday.

“Hakikat was very friendly. He had moved here five years ago from New Jersey," Bharaj said. "And he was happy here. Like many Sikhs, he lives five minutes away from the gurudwara.”

Bharaj got a call at midnight with the news.



“My initial reaction was disbelief followed by shock. I cannot believe this was happen to an ordinary, decent, middle class, nice, simple family, “ said Bharaj.

As for the frantic 911 caller, Bharaj said he will be supported.

“I cannot imagine what he is going through. I know that in the coming days, the community will rally and we will do whatever we can for the family,” he said.

Bharaj said this is the third homicide the Sikh community has faced in the past two years.

“We hope these deaths are not forgotten," he said. "This is a sad day for the Sikh community.”

West Chester Police Chief Joel Herzog addressed the press Monday and confirmed the victims of the quadruple homicide were all adults and lived in the apartment together.

Herzog added that children also lived in the home, but were not present during the shooting, and were now safe with other family members.

"It does not appear that the shooter is among the dead," he said. "It does not appear that there was any return fire."

Herzog said police are still working with multiple other law enforcement agencies to identify a suspect. He said the community should not be afraid but should remain vigilant.

Police responded to the 4500 block of Wyndtree Drive around 9:40 p.m. Sunday night after a man called 911 pleading for help and saying his wife, mother, father and aunt were down and bleeding.

More:West Chester Township deaths: 'They are bleeding,' man tells 911

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"Help, please help," the distraught man can be heard shouting during his 911 call. "They are bleeding."

He offers limited information, alternately speaking with the dispatcher then yelling for help and banging on doors of neighboring apartments at the Lakefront at West Chester complex.

The caller was unable to answer the dispatcher's question regarding why the family members were bleeding. He said he had just returned home and found them.

When asked if they were bleeding from the head, he said "yeah."

Herzog confirmed the caller was related to the victims and also lived at the residence. He said the man has spoken to investigators and is not in custody.

There was an extensive search involving K9 units and a helicopter in the area overnight. No arrests have been reported.

There was also report of a fire at the apartment. Herzog said this was due to unattended food being cooked.

There were some previous calls to that apartment in the past 10 years including one for assault and another for theft. Herzog could not confirm if the victims were residents when these calls were made.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Herzog said.

The Butler County Coroner's Office will release the identities of the victims. It is not clear when that will occur.

Police are asking anyone with information about the killings to contact police at 513-777-2231.

Sonia Chopra contributed to this story.