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Recognize him? Help police find shooter who attacked Sikh man in Kent

caption: Sketch of a possible suspect in the shooting of a Sikh man in Kent.
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Sketch of a possible suspect in the shooting of a Sikh man in Kent.
Courtesy of Kent Police

The FBI and the Kent police department are asking the public for help.

They continue to investigate the non-fatal shooting of a Sikh man in Kent on the evening of March 3.

Now they’re calling on the community to help them identify a suspect and report any suspicious behavior.

Officials are still gathering information, but they say the shooting was likely a hate crime. Authorities believe the 39-year-old victim was targeted because of his ethnic origin.

The victim was working on a vehicle in his driveway when he was confronted by the suspect. The victim says the shooter told him, “Go back to your own country.”

The victim was shot in the arm.

Authorities released a sketch of the suspect Thursday. They say they're looking for a man who is about 6 feet tall, has a medium build and is approximately 35 to 40 years old.

According to Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas, no tip from the public is too small.

"Reviewed together, every piece of information may contribute to a larger picture that could help us apprehend the shooter and understand the motive," Thomas said.

Authorities are offering a reward of up to $6,000 for information that leads to the successful resolution of the case.

The victim says the shooter told him "go back to your own country."

Satwinder Kaur is a leader of the local Sikh community. She is urging her community to stay vigilante and take certain steps if confronted.

"Step away, call the police, do not engage in an argument or any sort of confrontation with the person because you don't know what's going on through their mind, whether they have a gun or weapon just like this individual. You don't want to put your life in danger."

The local Sikh community said they've seen a recent increase in hate speech.

Authorities urge anyone with information about the recent shooting to call the Kent Police Department tip line: 253-856-5808

Community members with information can also call Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-8477

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