No new leads in investigation of IT professional’s murder last week in Cary, North Carolina

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Selvaraju Vellingiri, 55, whose life was cut short Aug. 27, 2020, while on his walk in the afternoon in Cary, North Carolina. The investigation is ongoing. Photo: Obituary on dignitymemorial.com

It has been almost a week since the tragic shooting death of Selvaraju Vellingiri, Aug. 27, 2020, in Cary, North Carolina. Vellingiri was an IT professional, and the funeral site describes him as a “Lifelong committed and passionate walker” known to everyone as simply ‘Selva’.

On that fateful afternoon Vellingiri signed off work  to pursue his favorite activity. A speed-walker who often followed his passion with a group of friends, he was alone this time, his obituary on the funeral website says.

According to police, Vellingiri was found shot dead on the 100 block of Connemara Drive in Somerset Community a little after 4 pm of that fateful day.

Cary Police identified him publicly next day as the “first victim” of a homicide in 2020. No arrests have been made as part of the ongoing investigation.

The investigation into his death is ongoing. No charges have been filed the police said asking for the community’s support in the investigation of the tragic death.

“We are working around the clock and have made this case our highest priority. Our thoughts are with Mr. Vellingiri’s family this evening,” Capt. Katherine Christian is quoted saying in the press release.

“We mourn the loss of a leader in our community,” North Carolina State Senator Jay Chaudhuri, told News India Times. “In the meantime, state and local officials remain in contact with law enforcement to monitor the investigation. According to local law enforcement, they have ruled this out as a hate crime,” Chaudhuri added

When contacted on Sept. 3, by News India Times, Capt. Christian said there had been no new developments over the last six days in the case. “And this is still an active investigation so we cannot share anything as of this time. Our biggest commitment is to Mrs. Vellingiri and the family,” she reiterated.

At 4:05 p.m. on Aug. 27, Cary Police responded to a report of shots fired in the Somerset community in western Cary. Upon their arrival, officers discovered a man with gunshot wounds in the vicinity of the community pool on Connemara Drive, a press release from the police said.

Anyone with information about this murder is encouraged to contact the Cary Police Department at (919) 469-4012.

Originally from Coimbatore, Vellingiri, spent many days speed walking with his group of friends, says the funeral website.

“No one, who met Selva can forget his quiet disposition. Behind that silent demeanor was a kind soul, who never refused anyone help and empathized with the lot of strangers and acquaintances alike,” the obituary goes on to say.

An engineer and an MBA graduate from India, Vellingiri came to the U.S. in 1999, as a business consultant. “After establishing financial independence and a tedious wait,” Vellingiri married  Kalaiselvi Sulur, “the love of his life,” in 2004.

“Bound by their shared passion for Tamil, their native language, both of them engaged robustly with the activities of the Tamil Sangam, earning Selva many friends in Michigan, Florida, and in Cary, NC,” says the obituary.

Vellingiri was on the Board of Directors of the Cary Tamil Sangam. He was also a staunch follower of the Isha foundation, that is dedicated to raising human consciousness through individual transformation.

“Members of both communities will miss his gracious nature,” the family said, and provided some insight into what was Vellingiri’s loving and lovable personality in this following account:

​”Above all, Selva was a doting husband and an indulgent father to his only daughter, Anandhi. She affectionately recalls many hours of playing “Barbie,” and “pushcart” with him. Not to mention, all the “sneaking around mom to get laddoos from the temple and frequently stopping for pakoras, samosas, and Starbucks coffee.” Selva has enthusiastically imparted all these mischievous impulses along with his flair for cooking exotic dishes like sambhar and his special “yellow rice” to her. He, she insists, was the only one who ever taught Math patiently.”

​Vellingiri is also survived by his mother Soundammal, his siblings and extended families in India and Australia.

The funeral home, Brown-Wynne Funeral Home & Crematory, live-streamed the funeral through Facebook Live. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice that opposes gun violence; or to a memorial scholarship fund to be established in Vellingiri’s honor.

 

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