The brother of Ronil Singh - a cop killed just after Christmas - delivered a tearful speech on Friday as California authorities announced they had arrested the illegal immigrant suspected of taking his life.

The deceased 33-year-old's sibling Reggie broke down in tears before taking to the microphone in a news conference as police informed the public that Gustavo Perez Arriaga, 32, was arrested in Bakersfield that morning on suspicion of killing the Newman Police Department Corporal on the morning of December 26.

Singh's relative was so emotional he had to be physically held up by authorities for support as he showed gratitude for a man being taken into custody in the case of his brother's slaying.

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During a press conference on Friday, Officer Ronil Singh's brother Reggie Singh wept as he thanked local law enforcement for capturing the suspect, Gustavo Perez Arriaga

Reggie showed gratitude for a man being taken into custody in the case of his brother's slaying

Singh's relative was so emotional he had to be physically held up by authorities for support

'Please bear with me, this is not easy for me. Ronil Singh was my older brother. Yes, he's not coming back but...' he wept. 'There's a lot of people out there that miss him and a lot of law enforcement people that I don't know that worked days and nights to make this happen. I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart.'

Clutching the left side of his chest, Reggie's appeal to the public was mostly a show of appreciation for the investigating cops.

'I wish I could thank all the law enforcement agencies, Homeland Security in San Francisco, everyone. Bakersfield team...' he continued to sob. 'I was waiting for this to happen. I'd like to thank you for working day and night to make this happen. Thank you.'

He appeared at the Stanislaus County Sheriff's department in Modesto, California with Newman Police chief Randy Richardson and Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson

Christianson identified Arriaga on Friday afternoon at a press conference saying he illegally entered the U.S. via Arizona several years ago and had two previous DUI arrests

Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said Arriaga is a Mexican national who illegally entered the U.S. through Arizona several years ago and was a part of the notoriously violent Sureños street gang.

He was placed in Corporal Singh's handcuffs when he was caught trying to flee back to Mexico on Friday, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.

Cops also arrested Arriaga's brother Adrian Virgen, 25, and co-worker Erik Razo Quiroz, 32, on Thursday for allegedly helping Arriaga escape police on charges of accessory after the fact to a felony.

'We had them in custody (Thursday) and asked for their cooperation and they lied to us,' Sheriff Christianson said at a Friday press conference.

He added they were also in the country illegally.

Arriaga, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested Friday morning in Bakersfield, California suspected of killing Singh just after Christmas. He is pictured above being taken in

Gustavo Perez Arriaga, 32, (left) was arrested for allegedly killing Newman Police Department Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, (right) on December 26

Christianson said that the motive behind the shooting is not clear and cops believe Arriaga was alone at the time of the suspected murder.

Arriaga worked various farm labor jobs and had a track record of two previous DUIs.

A friend of the corporal posted a picture of Arriaga's arrest on Friday afternoon with the caption: 'The long arms of the law found you...He is caught.'

Arriaga was arrested in Bakersfield, about 280 miles southeast of Newman, where Singh was shot. He was found in a home that was being monitored by law enforcement.

Sheriff Christianson blamed California's sanctuary laws from preventing police from reporting Arriaga to federal immigration officials following his previous DUI arrests. He said if Arriaga was deported, Singh could still be here today.

Cops at first did not release Arriaga's name or age saying that he goes by several aliases and has several Facebook pages under different names and had to be identified by fingerprint with police, according to The Modesto Bee.

Cops also arrested Arriaga's brother Adrian Virgen, 25, (left) and co-worker Erik Razo Quiroz, 32, (right) on Thursday for allegedly trying to divert police from capturing Arriaga

On Friday morning cops announced a press conference and 'significant developments' in the manhunt for the man who killed Corporal Singh

Kern County Sheriff's Donny Youngblood announced in a separate press conference Friday afternoon that three additional people - Bernabe Madrigal Castaneda, 59; Erasmo Villegas, 36; and Maria Luisa Moreno, 57 - have been arrested in South Valley for aiding and abetting Arriaga elude capture. They were in the home where he was arrested.

For Newman Police and Singh's family, Arriaga's arrest is a step towards justice.

Corporal Singh was killed after he pulled over Arriaga on suspicion of driving under the influence just before 1am on December 26.

He stopped the car after noticing it had no license plate as part of a DUI investigation.

After he approached Arriaga's gray Dodge pickup truck in Newman, a small town 100 miles south of San Francisco, he called 'shots fired' over his radio.

Singh fired back to defend himself. He was found with multiple bullet wounds and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Suspected gunman Arriaga then fled the scene before backup arrived.

Authorities launched a massive manhunt for the shooter after Singh was killed.

Cops launched a massive manhunt for the suspect and his Dodge pickup truck (above) which was found 13 hours later abandoned at a River Road mobile home park

Authorities released surveillance images of the suspected gunman sought in the shooting death of Newman Police Department Corporal Ronil Singh, 33

Police pictured above investigating the scene of the shooting on December 26

The Sheriff's office released surveillance photos of the suspect shopping at a local store and pictures of his Dodge pickup truck.

The suspect's Dodge truck was found 13 hours later abandoned at a River Road mobile home park registered to a man named Conrado Virgen Mendoza. Cops didn't confirm if that name was one of the suspect's aliases.

The car gave investigators plenty of evidence including fingerprints, DNA, and gunshot residue.

Investigators identified the subject but didn't immediately release his name as he had several aliases.

In the Friday press conference Sheriff Christianson said that Arriaga was a member of the Mexican-American street gang Sureños.

In several photos on his social media and pictures shared by police, a tattoo on his right arm affiliates him with the notoriously bloody gang.

Arriaga worked various farm labor jobs after illegally entering the U.S. through Arizona several years ago and had a track record of two previous DUIs

The suspect has a flaming skull tattoo on his right arm with the phrase '$ur3no$' which means Sureños, the name of a Mexican-American street gang linked to murders and human smuggling along the U.S.-Mexico border

This photo compilation on social media shows a closer look at the Sureños tattoo

In one of the photos a flaming skull tattoo with the word '$ur3no$' is visible on Arriaga's right arm, which according to police in Washington is Spanish for 'southerners'.

'Sureños are a group of Mexican-American street gangs with origins in southern California. The gang has allegiance to the [California] prison gang, Mexican Mafia, aka "La Eme," according to a gang recognition guide.

The group is located in southern California which is just south of Bakersfield. The gang has been linked to murders and human smuggling crimes along the U.S.-Mexico border.

On several of Arriaga's Facebook pages, the Sureños tattoo is visible. One profile shows him in several photos posing with a pistol.

Sheriff Christianson identified the fugitive suspect as an illegal immigrant, leading President Donald Trump jump on the case and rally for a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

'There is right now a full scale manhunt going on in California for an illegal immigrant accused of shooting and killing a police officer during a traffic stop. Time to get tough on Border Security. Build the Wall!' Trump tweeted.

'This suspect is in our country illegally. He doesn’t belong here. He is a criminal,' Christianson said.

Ronil Singh was killed Wednesday morning after he pulled over a car he suspected of driving under the influence

Singh was married and has a five-month-old son with his wife Anamika

Singh was a native of Fiji and lived in Modesto with his wife Anamika and their five-month-old son

Singh was a native of Fiji and lived in Modesto with his wife Anamika and their five-month-old son. He joined the Newman police force in 2011.

Earlier in his career, Singh worked as a deputy with the Merced County Sheriff's Department.

'He was living the American dream,' said Stanislaus County sheriff's Deputy Royjinder Singh, who is not related to the slain officer but knew him.

'He loved camping, loved hunting, loved fishing, loved his family,' the deputy said.

Outgoing California Gov. Jerry Brown offered condolences to Singh's family and said flags at the Capitol would fly at half-staff in his honor.

'Our hearts are with the entire community of Newman and law enforcement officers across the state who risk their lives every day to protect and serve the people of California,' Brown said.

A memorial fund has been set up by the police department in his honor.