Man Followed Home From Parx Casino Slain; 2 Charged In Killing

BENSALEM, PA — Police believe a New Jersey man killed in his home was targeted at the local Parx Casino in Bensalem.

According to multiple reports, 54-year-old Sree Aravapalli was a pharmaceutical company executive from Plainsboro, New Jersey having a night of gambling at the casino in the early morning on Oct. 26.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said 26-year-old Devon Melchor of Upper Darby and 27-year-old Jekai Reid-John of Norristown were also at the casino that night. Court papers show that the casino provided surveillance video in which two people were spotted around Aravapalli throughout the night, one of whom used a debit card at the casino with a receipt in the name of Jekai Reid-John, according to the Bucks County Courier Times.

An article from NBC New York said the men are believed to have watched Aravapalli cash in around $10,000 in winnings before leaving. They didn't know him previously, according to reports.

The outlet also said a camera at a nearby farmstand captured footage of Aravapalli traveling home, with the suspects' car close behind.

At approximately 3:38 a.m., authorities responded to a residence on Briardale Court following a report of shots fired, according to a release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. There, they reportedly found Aravapalli with multiple gunshot wounds.

He was taken from the scene to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the release. Detectives believe that Aravapalli was fatally shot in his home during an attempted robbery.

The Bucks County Courier-Times said funeral services for Aravapalli, husband and father of two children, were held Friday.

"The investigation ultimately determined [Reid-John] and Melchor targeted Aravapalli at a casino in Pennsylvania and followed him home to his Plainsboro residence where the offense occurred," a release from the prosecutor's office stated.

Reid-John was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder on Oct. 26, and remains in police custody in Pennsylvania pending an extradition hearing to New Jersey.

Melchor was taken into police custody later by authorities in Florida, where he was attempting to board an international flight on Oct. 28. The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office announced his arrest on Monday.

He remains in Florida pending an extradition hearing, and will be lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center pending a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court, according to the release.

Police asked those with information to contact Detective Atkinson of the Plainsboro Police Department at (609) 799-2333 or Detective Kelley of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3330.

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