For years, Jayeshkumar Brahmbhatt saved the money he earned as manager of a Roanoke convenience store so he and his wife could buy a house.

Since moving to Roanoke from India in 2001, the couple and their two daughters had been living in an apartment, his nephew said.

Last fall, they finally bought their first home, a one-story house in North Roanoke County. They had planned a traditional Indian ceremony for next week to celebrate the new house.

But Brahmbhatt was fatally shot Thursday by a man who police said was trying to rob the One Stop Market on Williamson Road where the 52-year-old man worked.

Jayeshkumar Sitaram Brahmbhatt

"He worked very hard to build his life and it all went for nothing," said Asit Inamdar, Brahmbhatt's nephew.

Police arrested Calvin Bond Watson, 51, of Roanoke and charged him with murder a short time after Brahmbhatt's death.

Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell said Friday he will seek a capital murder charge against Watson when the grand jury meets Monday.

Police said that about 4:45 p.m. Thursday, a man walked into the store with a gun and shot Brahmbhatt.

Police would not provide specific details about the incident.

The man fled without taking any money, police Chief Joe Gaskins said during a news conference at the police department Friday.

Calvin Watson

Brahmbhatt was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he died at 5:12 p.m.

Less than an hour later, two detectives following a tip from an anonymous caller encountered Watson outside a home on Westwood Boulevard Northwest, said Sgt. David Underwood.

When the detectives began talking with Watson and asked for his identification, he ran, Underwood said.

"As he was running away, the detectives actually chased him, and the suspect threw down a gun," he said.

The gun is similar to the one police believe was used in the shooting, Underwood said.

Detectives D.A. Jones and R.W. Cooper caught Watson and arrested him, Underwood said.

Police are still investigating how Watson got from the store to Westwood Boulevard, which is nearly four miles from the One Stop Market.

They are looking for a person who was seen leaving the scene in a gray Ford Crown Victoria.

Police also are investigating Watson's possible involvement in two other robberies: one at Advance Auto in the 1000 block of Orange Avenue Northwest on Feb. 23 and another at Go Mart in the 3500 block of Williamson Road Northwest on Feb. 26.

Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

Jayeshkumar Sitaram Brahmbhatt was shot to death Thursday during what Roanoke police describe as an attempted robbery of this One Stop Market on Williamson Road. Police arrested a suspect less than an hour after the shooting.

In those incidents, a man entered the stores with a gun and stole an undisclosed amount of money, Roanoke police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson said.

No one has been charged in those robberies.

Caldwell said that on Monday his office will present evidence to the grand jury related to potential indictments for capital murder, attempted robbery, possessing a firearm as a felon and using a firearm in a felony.

Watson has a lengthy criminal history, Caldwell said. He was paroled to the Roanoke area four months ago, and court records show that in the 1990s he was convicted in Richmond on numerous robbery charges.

Brahmbhatt's employer, Atul Patel, said the slaying has left several of his other clerks worried about their safety.

He assured them Friday morning during a meeting that the stores are equipped with security systems and surveillance cameras.

He said his employees, including Brahmbhatt, have been trained by police about what to do if a store is robbed.

Brahmbhatt had managed the Williamson Road store for six years and had never been robbed, Patel said.

Patel remembered Brahmbhatt for his accounting skills. Brahmbhatt was the manager of a bank in India before moving to Roanoke, he said.

"His accounting was so perfect," Patel said.

Brahmbhatt's immediate family was too distraught to be interviewed, Patel said.

Friday afternoon, dozens of customers dropped by the One Stop Market to fuel up and buy lottery tickets.

But as they parked and walked toward the darkened store, they noticed the closed sign on the door.

"I hate to see a man die over money, over trying to make a living," said Joan Jackson, 62.

Jackson said she stopped by the store three or four times a week.

Brahmbhatt and his wife, who worked with him in the store, would ask customers about their day and chat with anyone who came in.

"He's a friendly man," Jackson said. "He was friendly to everyone."

Staff writer Mike Allen contributed to this report.