Pharma executive is murdered by would-be robber who saw him win $10k at casino: Killer 'followed victim for 50 MILES then shot him dead in his home as wife and kids slept upstairs'
- Sree Aravapalli, 54, was shot multiple times inside his Plainsboro, New Jersey home in the early hours of Tuesday during an attempted robbery
- Police said that Jekai Reid-John, 27, followed him for 50 miles to his home after he spotted him winning $10,000 at Parx Casino just outside of Philadelphia
- When Aravapallin arrived home Reid-John broke through a back sliding door and shot and killed him while his daughter and wife were asleep upstairs
- Two days later police arrested Reid-John in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and charged him with first-degree murder
A New Jersey pharmacy executive was murdered in his home after a robber who witnessed him win $10,000 at a Philadelphia casino trailed him 50 miles to his home to rob him.
Sree Aravapalli, 54, was shot multiple times inside his Plainsboro, New Jersey home in the early hours of Tuesday during an attempted robbery after he was spotted winning $10,000 at Parx Casino just outside of Philadelphia and cashing in the windfall.
Police say 27-year-old Jekai Reid-John, who did not know Aravapalli, then followed him for 50 miles to his residence in a quiet, upper class New Jersey suburb in the dead of night.
Sree Aravapalli, 54, (pictured) was shot multiple times inside his Plainsboro, New Jersey home in the early hours of Tuesday during an attempted robbery
Police said that Jekai Reid-John, 27, (pictured) followed Aravapalli for 50 miles to his home after he spotted him winning $10,000 at Parx Casino just outside of Philadelphia
Security footage from a nearby farm stand captured Reid-John's car trailing Aravapalli's, NBC New York reported.
When the pharmaceutical executive arrived home shortly after 3 am, the 27-year-old was close behind and broke in through a back sliding door.
Aravapalli was still downstairs when Reid-John shot and killed him while his daughter and wife were asleep upstairs, police said.
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Security footage captured just one car make its way back towards Philadelphia following the shooting.
Two days later police arrested Reid-John in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and charged him with first-degree murder, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.
The brutal killing of Aravapalli, who was a popular member of his community, has left neighbors in shock
Reid-John trailed Aravapalli to his home after witnessing him winning $10,000 at Parx Casino just outside of Philadelphia
Aravapalli was killed inside his residence in a quiet, upper class New Jersey suburb in the dead of night (pictured)
He is set to be extradited to New Jersey.
The brutal killing of Aravapalli, who was a popular member of his local community, has left neighbors in shock.
'No one wins in something like this. How can the person that did this think they could get away with it? Why would they kill him?' Aravapalli's neighbor Abhikanit Kar told ABC6.com.
'You never expect this. We were shocked when we came to know what happened,' he added.
The CEO of the casino from which Aravapalli was followed offered his condolences and said the casino was cooperating with investigators.
'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,' Parx Casino CEO Eric Hausler said in a statement.
'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.'
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