Indian immigrant shot dead in Arizona

A 62-year-old Indian immigrant was shot dead at a convenience store in Arizona by an African-American man even as the assailant's minor sons watched.

Police arrested Jermaine Canada, 27, who had a lengthy criminal record, within hours of the killing of Inderjit Jassal but the motive behind the murder was not immediately clear.

Police said the surveillance video from the store where the victim was a clerk showed the attacker walking in around 0200  hours, carrying a toddler in one arm and an older boy entering a little later. The man had brief conservation with Jassal, pulled out the gun and shot the victim in the presence of his boys.

There appears to have been no argument before the shooting. Canada had been released from the prison eight months ago after serving time for misconduct with weapons.

The local media quoted the police as saying that the assailant did not steal anything nor did he quarrel with Jassal.

"He went in, had a brief conversation, and shot the clerk," said Phoenix detective Stacie Derge.

"Based on the video, it did not appear to be an argument," detective Derge said that investigators did not report any evidence to suggest the shooting was a hate-crime.

Investigators have not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the killing. Canada has a history of felony convictions that date back to his teenage years, the Arizona Republic newspaper reported . His convictions include aggravated assault and drug possession.