Washington: Police has arrested a 43-year-old transient in the slaying of India-born Sukhvir Singh, a convenience store clerk, in Mesa, Arizona.

Mesa Police, on receiving a tip-off, arrested Bruce Phillip Reed on September 24, a local daily reported on September 25.

Police had been searching for Reed since September 23 evening when Singh was found stabbed to death in the JP's Food Mart on Mill Avenue, in Tempe where he worked. He was alone at that time.

Mesa turned Reed over to Tempe Police, who booked him on a count of first-degree murder, 'The Arizona Republic' said.

Reed, authorities say, had done odd jobs for Sukhvir Singh who was known as "Sonny" to many of his customers.

Customers say Singh tried to help Reed, who typically slept in some bushes near the store, by having him to do odd jobs in exchange for food and cigarettes.

Tempe Police believe that Reed stabbed Singh several times, a knife that might have been used in the killing was found on September 24 at a business centre near the store.

Singh, who immigrated from India in 1997, was a Sikh, but authorities said they did not have any information leading them to believe his death was a hate crime.

Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh owner of a gas station in Mesa, was shot four days after the September 11 terrorist attacks in what prosecutors believe was a hate crime. Frank Roque, the defendant in the case, is currently on trial.

In May, a Phoenix truck driver Avtar Singh was shot and injured in what police believe was also a hate crime.

PTI