Singh, 33, was shot and killed at 1 a.m. Wednesday after pulling over a suspected drunk driver at Merced Street and Eucalyptus Avenue in the Northern California town of Newman, reports the
Modesto Bee
.
He exchanged gunfire with the suspect but is not believed to have hit him.
While Christianson said investigators have identified the suspect, they will not release his name. He said the suspect is in the county illegally. "He doesn't belong here; he is a criminal," Christianson said.
An emotional Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson also spoke at the conference, focusing on Singh and what made him special.
He spoke through tears about Singh and the impact his death has had on the small department of 12 sworn officers. This is the first line-of-duty death for the Newman Police Department.
Singh is survived by his wife, Anamika, and their infant son.