A night at the tables in the Parx Casino took a deadly turn on Tuesday. A New Jersey gambler was followed home after a gambling session at the online Pennsylvania casino and shot dead during an attempted robbery.
According to the police, Sree Ranga Aravapalli, aged 53, was shot multiple times in his own home on Briardale Court in Plainsboro, The shooting happened at approximately 3:38 a.m. Tuesday. Mr. Aravapalli left behind a wife, daughter, and son. Police have already apprehended the suspected murderer. Jekai Reid-John, aged 27, from Norristown, Pennsylvania, is now charged with one count of murder in the first degree.
A Shocking and Alarming Event
The shooting shook the Plainsboro community to its core. Frederick Tavener, the Plainsboro Police Chief, offered sincere condolences in his own and in the name of the department to the victim’s family. He said that this is a devastating loss for the family and friends of the Sree Aravapalli. The Chief also added that this is also an alarming event for the whole community. Neighbors of the murder victim also expressed their shock and disbelief. The Tuesday events also alarmed the people living near the Parx Casino who were very disturbed by Aravapalli’s tragedy.
Parx Casino representative also released a statement regarding the tragic event that unfolded on Tuesday. They’re very saddened that one of their customers became a victim of such a gruesome crime. They offered their condolences to the family and friends of the victim. In addition, they promised full cooperation with law enforcement during the investigation.
How the Tragic Events Unfolded
According to authorities, Sree Aravapalli was seen cashing in around $10,000 of casino winning on the night in question. Casino security cameras showed two persons who were following the victim through the night. At one moment, one of them used a debit card in the name of Jekai Reid-John. The investigation further established that on the drive home, Aravapalli entered the Pennsylvania turnpike while being followed by a white BMW. The BMW got off the turnpike at the same exit and the same time as Aravapalli, around 3:20 a.m.
About 18 minutes later, police received a call from Briardale Court about the robbery and one person being shot. When police arrived at Mr. Aravapalli’s residence, they found him with multiple gunshot wounds in his office. The victim was rushed to the nearby hospital, but there was nothing doctors could do, and he was pronounced dead at 5:24 a.m.
The authorities acted quickly and found Reid-John’s address in Norristown where they found a white BMW parked in front of the house. At the front seat, the police found a trash bag and a pair of sneakers. The sneakers matched the description of the shoes worn by the person caught on camera at the casino. Not long after that, police spotted a car with Reid John and his girlfriend inside and apprehended the pair. The girlfriend stated that Reid-John was absent all night. The prime suspect claimed that he stopped by the casino only to get food. When asked about the events after leaving the casino, he requested a lawyer.
Acting on a search warrant, authorities searched the Norristown home and recovered clothing matching the description of what the suspect was wearing and a 9mm loaded gun. Jekai Reid-John is now charged with one count of first-degree murder while other charges are pending.
