THE family of 33-year-old former Fiji citizen Ronil Singh, who was a police officer in California, United States, is still in shock after his death.
According to CBS Sacramento news, Mr Singh was shot dead by a suspect in the early hours of Boxing Day while making a traffic stop.
When a team from this newspaper visited his relative’s home in Navua yesterday, family members were slowly gathering to pay their last respects.
Mr Singh’s cousin sister Shelveena Singh said the family was still coming to terms with his passing.
“We were having a family get-together on Boxing Day.
“Ronil’s parents and brother, Rajnil Singh, were in the country on a vacation and were staying at the Nanuku Auberge Resort in Pacific Harbour,” Ms Singh said.
“A call came from the US around 1am from my sister-in-law (Ronil’s wife) advising us that Ronil was no more and he had been killed.
“We could not believe it, so to make sure of the news, Ronil’s parents called my sister-in-law’s parents.
“The family was supposed to return to the US today (yesterday).”
Ms Singh said the family had migrated to the US about 16 years ago and were originally from Naitata in Navua.
“He was a very nice person and helped everyone around him.
“We will miss him very much. We were all close to him,” she said.
She said two of her uncles from Fiji were accompanying the late Mr Singh’s parents and brother to the US to make funeral arrangements.
“We are not sure when the funeral will be held as post-mortem examinations will also be carried out,” she said.
The late Mr Singh was employed by the Newman Police Department since July 2011.
