Arrests bring family ‘mixed emotions,’ says Malik’s son

The son of Ripudaman Singh Malik is remembering his father as a dedicated philanthropist who dedicated his life to serving his community.

Jaspreet Singh Malik read a statement from the family at his law offices in Surrey Wednesday, and thanked everyone all over the world who reached out in support of the family over the last 13 days.

The statement comes after two men were arrested and charged with murder in the shooting death of his father, a man who was acquitted in the 1985 Air India bombing. Singh Malik co-founded the Khalsa Credit Union and Khalsa schools in the Lower Mainland.

Related Articles:

• Murder charges in shooting death of Ripudaman Singh Malik in Surrey

• Ripudaman Singh Malik shooting suspects waited for victim: homicide team

• Ripudaman Singh Malik, acquitted in Air India bombing, killed in Surrey

Tanner Fox, 21, and Jose Lopez, 23, have both been charged with first-degree murder.

“Since our father’s assassination on July 14, our family’s been in a state of shock,” Singh Malik said. “The news today that two people have been arrested has brought us mixed emotions.”

“We are glad that IHIT is making progress and we support them in the work they are doing. At the same time, we are saddened that these two young men made such poor life choices.”

Singh Mailk noted that it strikes the family as “profoundly sad” that their father, who dedicated his life to serving his community, mentoring young people and steer them on a “path of being productive members of Canadian society, was taken by two young people who clearly strayed so far from that path.”

“No matter where the investigation goes, and no matter how these charges turned out, we’ve lost a great man.

“Ripudaman Singh Malik was not only a husband, a father, a grandfather, but a community leader. And an inspiration to many. As a family we have committed to continuing his vision and his projects, and we will continue to serve the community to honor his legacy,” he said.

Jaspreet told reporters that he and his family have never heard the names of his father’s killers before, and are “at a loss” to understand why someone would want to kill his father.

“My father was 75 years old. He was not a young person. He was healthy, he was doing well. … It doesn’t make sense,” he said.