Murder most foul: Sree Aravapalli of New Jersey murdered in home, suspect arrested

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An Indian-American man who had a big night at a casino near Philadelphia, PA, was found dead from gunshot wounds at his home in New Jersey.

According to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Sree Aravapalli’s death was allegedly caused by Jekai Reid-John, 27, or Norristown, Pennsylvania, who allegedly  “targeted Aravapalli in Pennsylvania and followed him to his home in Plainsboro residence where the offense occurred.” Aravapalli was followed from the Parx Casino in Bensalem, PA, to Plainsboro, Mercer County where his home is, the report shows.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and chief Fred Tavener of the Plainsboro Police Department announced the arrest of Reid-John, Oct. 27, 2021.

As described in the news release, on Oct. 26, in the early hou4rs of the morning (3:38 A.M.) authorities responded to a residence on Briardale Court following a report of shots fired.

On their arrival they found Aravapalli, 54, had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was fatally shot in his own home during an attempted robbery.

The investigation by Plainsboro police and Middlesex County prosecutors determined that Reid-John was the alleged killer.

Although the investigation is continuing and other charges are expected, Reid-John was arrested and charged Oct. 26 with one count of first-degree-murder.

The suspect has been taken into police custody by local authorities in Pennsylvania where he remains pending an extradition hearing, the Prosecutor’s Office said.

Upon Reid-John’s return to New Jersey, he will be lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center pending a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court, the news release said.

In a cbslocal news report, a neighbor of Aravapalli, Sheeza Khan, said, “It’s crazy, I mean, unbelievable. How can somebody follow him all the way and come here and kill him in the night? It’s so shocking.”

Another neighbor, Abhi Kanitkar, is quoted saying, “Just a nice family man, always home and there with his wife and kids, and celebrating all the festivals.”

Parx Casino CEO Eric Hausler also released a statement carried in cbslocal New York.

“We are deeply saddened by the report that earlier this week a customer of Parx Casino was the victim of a homicide at his home after returning from a visit to the casino. We have learned that law enforcement officials have arrested a suspect who followed the victim home from the casino that night. Parx Casino has been cooperating fully with local and state law enforcement agencies in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and will continue to do so. Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim at this incredibly difficult time,” Hausler said.

According to news reports, Aravapalli was the CEO of Aurex Laboratories. The company website shows it is located in East Windsor, New Jersey. It describes itself as a “fully integrated pharmaceutical company which provides contract development and manufacturing services to the healthcare industries.”

Aravapalli’s funeral took place Oct. 28, 2021, cbslocal of New York reported.