The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has announced that it has obtained charges of first-degree murder from the BC Prosecution Service against two suspects in connection with the shooting of 75-year-old Ripudaman Singh Malik.

IHIT states that 21-year-old Tanner Fox and 23-year-old Jose Lopez have been arrested and charged.

Malik, who was acquitted in the 1985 Air India bombing case in 2005, was shot dead on July 14 near 82nd Avenue and 128th Street just before 9:30 am.

You might also like:
• Man acquitted in Air India bombing reportedly shot dead in Metro Vancouver
• CCTV footage released after businessman acquitted in Air India bombing killed (VIDEO)

In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, IHIT said that when first responders arrived, they found Malik suffering from gunshot wounds. Although life-saving interventions were attempted, Malik died at the scene.

“This case was complex with its own unique challenges,” said Superintendent Mandeep Mookerin a statement.

“Our IHIT investigators and partners prevailed because of the dedication and expertise that each investigator brings as part of the integration and partnership.”

The murder of Malik was a controversial subject for the Indo-Canadian community as his controversial past has been a divisive subject.

Ripudaman Singh Malik, accused in the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing that left over 300 dead, has been killed in Canada. In recent statements he praised the Indian government.

Apparently, this didn’t go down well with his erstwhile ISI handlers. pic.twitter.com/q4JPOICdMF

— Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) July 15, 2022

In recent years, Malik was known as a prominent businessman in the community.

This is the plaza in Surrey where well known businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik shot dead this morning. pic.twitter.com/Gnz1meuYG3

— Gurpreet S. Sahota (@GurpreetSSahota) July 14, 2022

“We understand this is a high-profile, international story. However, we urge not to speculate as to the motive as our homicide investigators will be following the evidence,” IHIT Sgt. David Lee said following the shooting.

With files from Nikitha Martins