Fresno Sheriff’s deputy arrests man in Madera store murder

A Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy is being credited with the arrest of a man suspected in the Monday night murder of a Madera County store clerk.

The suspect is Armitraj Singh Athwal, 22, of Modesto. Dharampreet Singh Jassar, 20, of Caruthers was slain at the Tackle Box just outside Madera shortly before 11 p.m.

Jasser was slain when two bandits entered the store and one opened fire. Wednesday afternoon, Madera Sheriff Jay Varney announced the arrest of Athwal, who was taken into custody by the Fresno deputy about 40 minutes after the robbery.

Madera Sheriff’s Lt. Bill Ward said the Fresno deputy saw media coverage of the robbery Tuesday and connected his arrest with the crime. Madera Sheriff’s detectives were contacted and determined Athwal is the likely suspect in the shooting. A warrant has been obtained for the suspect and he will be transferred to the Madera Department of Corrections, Ward said.

Athwal’s vehicle has been impounded and detectives are searching for the second robber.

Varney called Jasser a “completely innocent victim, just doing his job, when he was senselessly killed during this robbery.”

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Fresno Sheriff’s deputy arrests man in Madera store murder."