33 Year-Old Police Officer Of Indian Origin Shot Dead In California By Gunman During Christmas Traffic Stop

Corporal Ronil Singh, a 33 year-old American police officer of Indian origin, was working overtime on the night of Christmas in California’s Newman city, when he was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while conducting a routine traffic stop, reports Hindustan Times.

The Hispanic looking suspect fled the scene in his vehicle before reinforcements arrived. Singh had informed his department over the radio about ‘shots fired’ at his location. Respondents from multiple agencies reached the scene to help Singh but found him bleeding with multiple gunshot wounds.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital where he was taken for emergency treatment. The Newman Police Department (NPD) has released photos of the suspect and his vehicle from surveillance footage of the crime scene.

Singh had served an illustrious career of seven years with the NPD. At the time of the incident, he was “working overtime on Christmas night to provide the best for his family,” as per a statement released by the department.

The corporal was a Fiji native with Indian roots and had immigrated to the United States. He is survived by his wife Anamika, and a five-month-old son.

New York Police Department Chief Terence Monahan condoled Singh’s death on Twitter, stating, “Sending our condolences to the men and women in blue of the Newman Police Department in California and to the family of Officer Ronil Singh, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop early this morning. Officer Singh died as he lived — a hero. We will #NeverForget.”

The late officer will be honoured in California where all capitol flags will be flown at half-mast in his memory.