Jagjeet Singh’s killing in Modesto remains one of the most disturbing local homicide cases tied to May 4. The 32-year-old convenience store clerk was fatally stabbed late at night outside Hatch Food & Gas in south Modesto after what investigators said began as an argument over cigarettes.

According to reporting and court records, the killing happened on May 4, 2017, at Hatch Food & Gas in the 800 block of West Hatch Road, just west of Dallas Street. Investigators said Singh had argued with a customer earlier that night. Prosecutors later said the suspect returned to the store with a hunting knife and attacked Singh as the store was closing.

What happened to Jagjeet Singh?

Authorities said the violence started about 30 minutes before the fatal stabbing. A customer reportedly argued with Singh over cigarettes inside the store. A store manager later said the customer wanted to buy one or two single cigarettes, and Singh told him the store could not do that because it was illegal.

Prosecutors said the suspect, later identified as Lester Antonio Portillo, left the store, went home, got a 12-inch hunting knife, and returned. Investigators said he then waited outside the business until the clerks began closing.

When Singh went outside near the doorway, prosecutors said Portillo stabbed him. Singh collapsed near the entrance. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died.

Where did the Modesto killing happen?

The homicide happened at Hatch Food & Gas on West Hatch Road in south Modesto, near Dallas Street. The case drew major public attention because it happened at a neighborhood business and because surveillance images helped investigators identify the suspect.

The exact publicly reported location was the 800 block of West Hatch Road. In the sources reviewed for this article, no publicly confirmed suspect vehicle was identified as being used in the crime.

Who was Jagjeet Singh?

Jagjeet Singh was 32 years old. Reporting described him as an immigrant from India who had been in the United States for about 18 months and was working to support family members in India. Family statements described him as a hardworking, warm, and cheerful person.

His death deeply affected relatives both in Modesto and in Punjab, India, where his wife and two sons were living.

Who was arrested in the case?

Modesto police identified Lester Antonio Portillo as the suspect. After authorities released surveillance images from the store, tips from the community helped detectives identify and arrest him.

Police served a search warrant at Portillo’s Modesto home about a week after the killing. He was then booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on a murder charge.

Later reporting said Portillo pleaded no contest to murder in Singh’s death. Prosecutors said he admitted he was the person involved in the argument inside the store.

Why this case stood out

This Modesto homicide stood out because of how quickly a minor dispute allegedly turned deadly. It also drew attention because the victim was a local store clerk simply doing his job, and because surveillance footage played a major role in the investigation.

For many in Modesto, the case became a painful example of how everyday workplace conflict can suddenly become fatal.

What is confirmed

• Jagjeet Singh was fatally stabbed on May 4, 2017
• The killing happened at Hatch Food & Gas in the 800 block of West Hatch Road in Modesto
• Police identified Lester Antonio Portillo as the suspect
• Authorities said the incident followed an argument over cigarettes
• Prosecutors said the suspect returned with a 12-inch hunting knife
• Portillo later pleaded no contest to murder

What is not clearly confirmed in the public reporting reviewed

• A confirmed suspect vehicle used in the crime
• Any broader motive beyond the reported argument over cigarettes
• Additional scene details beyond the surveillance images, witness accounts, and prosecution summary

Final takeaway

The killing of Jagjeet Singh remains one of the more memorable Modesto homicide cases tied to May 4 because it combined a clear timeline, a public business setting, surveillance evidence, and a heartbreaking victim story. Singh was a worker supporting family members, and his death left lasting pain for loved ones in both Modesto and India.

As with many local homicide cases, the facts are most powerful when kept clear: a late-night argument, a return to the scene, and a store clerk who never made it home.

Quick Facts

• Victim: Jagjeet Singh, 32
• Suspect: Lester Antonio Portillo
• Date: May 4, 2017
• Location: Hatch Food & Gas, 800 block of West Hatch Road, near Dallas Street, Modesto
• Weapon: Reported 12-inch hunting knife
• Initial reported motive: Argument over cigarettes
• Case status: Portillo later pleaded no contest to murder
• Vehicle used: No publicly confirmed vehicle found in reviewed reporting