Described as an “action hero” by his friends and family, Corporal Ronil Singh of the small town Newman Police Department died after being shot by a gunman on Christmas morning in California.
The 33-year-old Officer had pulled over a truck in a residential area of Newman over suspected drunken driving at around 1 a.m. when the alleged assailant fired shots at officer Singh.
He called ‘shots fired’ over the radio, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement, which is leading the investigation.
Mr Singh was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The incident has sparked a manhunt in California for the suspect whose pictures have been released by the Sheriff’s Department who believes he is still in the area and is “armed” and “dangerous.”
Addressing a press conference, Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said the suspect is an undocumented immigrant in the US who “doesn’t belong here.”
“The sheriff’s office will spare no expense in hunting down this criminal,” he added.
Taking to Twitter in response to the incident, US President Donald Trump linked the shooting to border security and renewed his call for a border wall.
Singh who was a native of Fiji had started his career in law enforcement as a cadet. He joined the Newman Police Department in 2011. He is survived by his wife and an infant son.
The Stanislaus County Sworn Deputies Association has also set up a memorial fund to assist his young family.
Tributes have been pouring in from the Officer’s family, friends and co-workers who describe him as a friendly and adventurous man who loved to do what he was doing-“serving everyone he cared for.”
Meanwhile, the Capitol flags in California will be flown at half-staff in honour of the slain Officer, said the Governor’s office.
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