Authorities in California are searching for a suspect they said killed a California police officer during a traffic stop earlier this morning.
ABC 7 reported that Newman Police Officer Ronil Singh pulled a car over before he could be heard saying “shots fired” on a police radio in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department Facebook post, officials responded to the scene, located on Merced Street and Eucalyptus Avenue in Newman, at 12:57 a.m. They subsequently discovered their fellow officer suffering from “multiple gunshot wounds,” and the suspect gone.
Singh, a native of Fiji who worked at the Newman Police Department since 2011, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, officials said.
Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson expressed grief regarding Singh’s death, and asked anyone who has information regarding the case to come forward.
“Our Newman Police family is devastated by the loss of Ronil,” he stated. “If anyone has any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact law enforcement immediately so we can get this cop-killer off the streets.”
Detectives said they believe the suspect was driving a “gray, extended cab Dodge Ram pickup” that was spotted “in the area at the time of the shooting.”
Further, the sheriff’s department released photos of both the suspect and vehicle. Anyone with information pertaining to the incident is urged to contact Detective Michael Fisher at 209-525-7083 or dispatch at 209-552-2468. You may report tips anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 209- 521-4636.
This is a developing story. CrimeOnline will provide updates as information becomes available.
[Feature photo: Suspected killer/Merced Police Department, Ronil Singh/Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department]
