Maxi grocery store stabbing prompts tips from public

 Montreal police are asking the public to come forward with any information regarding a suspect in the fatal stabbing of a Maxi grocery store employee in St-Michel.

Const. Abdullah Emran says investigators have checked out about 20 tips since the fatal attack on Clémence Beaulieu-Patry, 20, Sunday evening.

"We encourage citizens to keep an eye open and continue to call police if they believe they know the suspect," Emran said Tuesday.

Beaulieu-Patry was working in the clothing section of the Maxi, at the intersection of Papineau Avenue and Crémazie Boulevard East, when she was stabbed in the neck. She died shortly after.

The attack happened at around 8:30 p.m., in front of customers.

Police released an image taken from surveillance video that shows the suspect, a black man between 25 and 30 years old.

"Presently, the investigators are not able to make a link between the suspect and the victim. So, as far as they know, there is no link," said Emran.

Emran said it wasn't clear why the suspect targeted Beaulieu-Patry. The store was full of people at the time.

Store reopens with increased security

After being closed for the investigation on Monday, the Maxi was open again for business Tuesday morning.

About 30 people were working at the store at the time of the attack. Their union has offered counselling.

A bouquet of flowers was placed outside the store in tribute to Beaulieu-Patry, who had worked at the store since 2013.

Loblaws, the company that runs the store, said in a statement Monday that it would put in place increased security measures. 

A security guard was out front early Tuesday as workers entered the store.