'Our family has been in a state of shock': Murder charges in killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik
Murder charges have been laid in the shooting death of Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was gunned down in front of his Surrey, B.C., business July 14.
Malik, who was acquitted in 2005 in connection with the Air India bombings that killed 331 people, was 75.
On Tuesday, RCMP arrested Tanner Fox, 21, and Jose Lopez, 23, without incident in Abbotsford and New Westminster, respectively.
“Through conventional investigative techniques and amazing police work, we were able to identify and arrest two suspects in relation to this homicide,” said Supt. Mandeep Mooker of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
He said both suspects are known to police.
Court records show Fox has previous criminal convictions that include assault causing bodily harm and aggravated assault.
Lopez has convictions for assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. He is also facing a string of weapons-related charges in Kelowna. He goes to trial on the Kelowna matters next December and had been out on bail.
“No matter where the investigation goes and no matter how these charges turn out, we have lost a great man,” said Jaspreet Malik, the son of Ripudaman Singh Malik.
“Since our father’s assassination … our family has been in a state of shock. We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from the community,” he said, adding that news of arrests bring mixed emotions.
“We are glad the IHIT team is making progress and we support them in the work they are doing,” he said, but added that the family is upset two young people have allegedly chosen the wrong path in life.
When asked if further arrests could be made, Mooker said the investigation is ongoing.
“Obviously, we're in the infancy of this investigation as it’s only 13 days old, so there's many follow-up tasks to be completed,” he said.
Police said they are still working to establish a motive for the killing, but the family admits it’s a question that may never be answered.
“It may always be an incomplete story,” said Malik’s son. “We may never know, but again, I trust in the police to do their job.”
Mooker said that the investigation has been “complex with its own unique challenges,” and that charges came because of the “dedication and expertise that each investigator brings as part of the integration and partnership.”
Meanwhile, Surrey RCMP’s officer in charge, Brian Edwards, took a moment to thank the community.
“I want to thank the residents of Surrey and thank you for your trust and your patience and your assistance in solving this matter,” he said.
A bail hearing for the accused is scheduled for Aug. 10.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau calls violence in Montreal 'appalling' as NATO protest continues
Anti-NATO protesters gathered again in Montreal on Saturday to demand Canada withdraw from the alliance, a day after a demonstration organized by different groups resulted in arrests, burned cars and shattered windows.
7 suspects, including 13-year-old, charged following 'violent' home invasion north of Toronto
Seven teenage suspects, including a 13-year-old, have been arrested following a targeted and “violent” home invasion in Vaughan on Friday, police say.
These vascular risks are strongly associated with severe stroke, researchers say
Many risk factors can lead to a stroke, but the magnitude of risk from some of these conditions or behaviours may have a stronger association with severe stroke compared with mild stroke, according to a new study.
Widow of Chinese businessman who was executed for murder can sell her Vancouver house, court rules
A murder in China and a civil lawsuit in B.C. have been preventing the sale of multiple Vancouver homes, but one of them could soon hit the market after a court ruling.
Cher 'shocked' to discover her legal name when she applied to change it
Cher recalls a curious interlude from her rich and many-chaptered history in her new book 'Cher: The Memoir, Part One.'
Black bear killed in self-defence after attack on dog-walker in Maple Ridge, B.C.
A black bear has died following a brawl with a man on a trail in Maple Ridge, B.C.
Retiring? Here's how to switch from saving for your golden years to spending
The last paycheque from a decades-long career arrives next Friday and the nest egg you built during those working years will now turn into a main source of income. It can be a jarring switch from saving for retirement to spending in retirement.
Canadian neurosurgeons seek six patients for Musk's Neuralink brain study
Canadian neurosurgeons in partnership with Elon Musk's Neuralink have regulatory approval to recruit six patients with paralysis willing to have a thousand electrode contacts in their brains.
Police thought this gnome looked out of place. Then they tested it for drugs
During a recent narcotics investigation, Dutch police said they found a garden gnome made of approximately two kilograms of MDMA.