Convenience Store Clerk, 55, Killed in Irvine; 2 Suspects Are Arrested

A clerk at an Irvine convenience store was stabbed and beaten to death early Tuesday during an apparent robbery that was caught on surveillance tape, police said.

Suresh K. Dass, 55, was working alone at a 7-Eleven in the Culver Plaza shopping center when two men entered the store about 2:15 a.m. Tuesday, said Irvine Police Lt. Jeff Love. The men wore ski masks and apparently intended to rob the store, he said. A surveillance camera photographed them as they beat and stabbed the clerk, Love said.

Shortly after the attack, police arrested Travis Frazier, 22, of Tustin near the scene. A second suspect, Spencer Fox, 21, of Irvine, was arrested later in Anaheim. They are being held on suspicion of robbery and homicide.

Dass went to work despite pleas from his wife that he stay home the rest of the week. He had planned to take a plane Saturday night to visit the couple’s oldest son, who remained in India when his parents and two siblings moved to Irvine, said Rajenbra Dass, the victim’s brother.

“I spoke with him Monday night by telephone. He was very happy and excited about seeing his son again,” Rajenbra Dass said.

“He was very much looking forward to the trip. His wife wanted him to stay home with the family, since he was going to be gone in a few days.”

Love said police were assisted in the arrests by two sharp-eyed security guards. The guards were in a parked car about 200 feet from the 7-Eleven when they saw the suspects walk by. Love said the guards saw them enter the store and became alarmed when the two men ran out.

One guard followed the suspects into an apartment complex on Deerfield Avenue, a block north of Culver Drive, while the other raced inside the store, where he found Suresh K. Dass bleeding and beaten. Love said the guard notified police, and officers arrived about a minute later.

Dass died at the scene. Love said investigators were trying to determine if any money was taken. The store is owned by a brother-in-law, said Rajenbra Dass.

A police canine unit followed one suspect’s scent to the apartment complex, where police found Frazier in some bushes, Love said. Fox was arrested about 12:45 p.m. in Anaheim.

Love said a bloodstained knife believed to be the weapon was recovered, but no details were provided.

A third man, Joshua Valentine, 25, of Fountain Valley, was also arrested by Irvine police and charged with being under the influence. Love said he was a friend of Frazier and Fox, but police are not sure of his role, if any, in the crime.

“We know only two people were involved in the attack.... We’re still trying to sort through this,” Love said.