Second arrest after NJ man followed from casino, slain: prosecutor

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PLAINSBORO, N.J. (AP) — A second Pennsylvania man has been arrested following the death of a man allegedly followed home from a Philadelphia-area casino and killed in his New Jersey home in an attempted robbery, authorities said.

The Middlesex County prosecutor’s office and Plainsboro police said Monday that 26-year-old Devon Melchor of Upper Darby was taken into custody by authorities in Florida as he was trying to board an international flight. He was charged with first-degree armed robbery and conspiracy, authorities said.

First responders called to a Plainsboro home early on Oct. 26 found 54-year-old Sree Aravapalli with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Local and county investigators said he was targeted at a Pennsylvania casino, followed to his New Jersey home and killed during an attempted robbery.

Eric Hausler, chief executive officer of Parx Casino in Bensalem, said in a statement that officials were “saddened” to learn that a customer was killed after returning from a visit to the casino, which is about 30 miles (50 kilometers) away.

Jekai Reid-John, 27, of Norristown, was charged earlier with first-degree murder with other charges pending, authorities said.

Both men were being held pending extradition hearings; it wasn’t immediately clear whether either has an attorney. A message was left at a number listed in Melchor’s name; listed numbers in Reid-John’s name weren’t in service.

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