2 charged in 2022 fatal shooting of 41-year-old B.C. man

An Abbotsford man who was charged a year ago with the killing of a Surrey man who had been acquitted of the 1985 Air India bombing has now been charged with another murder.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announced Saturday (May 27) that Tanner Fox, 22, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Chad Colivas, 41, of Abbotsford.

Also charged in Colivas’s death is Laetitia Acera, 30, of Abbotsford. She is facing a charge of manslaughter.

IHIT said the pair were arrested Friday (May 26).

Police were called on March 21, 2022 to the 3500 block of Latimer Road just before 10 p.m. for reports of a shooting. Paramedics performed life-saving measures, but Colivas died on scene.

Police have said the incident is not believed to be linked to the B.C. gang conflict.

Sgt. Timothy Pierotti of IHIT said the investigation was “dynamic and complex.”

“As always, IHIT is grateful for its strong partnership with the Abbotsford Police Department and the other integrated teams, and the strong work completed by all investigators, which led to these results,” he said.

IHIT is not providing any further details, including the circumstances of the shooting and the connection between Fox, Acera and Colivas.

Fox is still facing a first-degree murder charge in a Surrey case. IHIT announced on July 27, 2022 that Fox and another man, Jose Lopez, 24, had been charged with the shooting death on July 14, 2022 of Ripudaman Singh Malik, 75, in Surrey.

Malik was acquitted in 2005 of the 1985 Air India Bombing following a lengthy trial in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. He was found not guilty of eight criminal counts, including bomb-related and first-degree murder charges.

Malik, 75, was shot and killed in a business complex at 8236 128 Street in Newton. A white Honda CR-V, which was captured on CCTV hours before the shooting, was later found burning in the 12200 block of 82 Avenue.

Fox’s next appearance on that matter is Sept. 5 in Surrey for a preliminary inquiry.

Fox was also sentenced in July 2020 for stabbing a 17-year-old male during an altercation in a parking lot in Abbotsford. He received an additional 119 days in jail, on top of time served, and two years of probation.

He also has prior convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, obstructing a peace officer, and breaching his conditions.

Acera also has several prior convictions, including for obstructing a peace officer, fraud, dangerous driving, failing to stop at an accident, breaching her conditions, possession of property obtained by crime, using a stolen credit card, break-and-enter, and driving while prohibited.

Acera has an extensive criminal record. In January 2019, police in Calgary issued a notice that Acera was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant on 115 charges, including theft, fraud, and assault with a weapon. She was arrested shortly afterwards.

According to the B.C. court database, her prior convictions include obstructing a peace officer, fraud, dangerous driving, failing to stop at an accident, breaching her conditions, possession of property obtained by crime, using a stolen credit card, break-and-enter, and driving while prohibited.

vhopes@abbynews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Breaking News Homicide IHIT Police