Aurex Lab Indian American CEO Killed in Robbery Attempt after Winning $10K at Casino

Sree Ranga Aravapalli. (LinkedIn photo via IANS)

NEW YORK – The Indian American CEO of a pharmaceutical company has been killed in a robbery attempt allegedly by a man who followed him home from a casino after seeing him win nearly $10,000, according to media reports.

Sree Ranga Aravapalli, 54, who headed Aurex Laboratories, was shot dead when he reached home in Plainsboro, New Jersey, early Oct. 26 morning, officials said.

The County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Plainsboro Police Chief Fred Tavener said in a joint statement that the alleged assailant, Jekai Reid-John, 27, “targeted Aravapalli in Pennsylvania and followed him home to his Plainsboro residence where the offense occurred.”

They said he was charged with murder and arrested by local authorities in Pennsylvania and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey.

The officials said police officers responding to reports of shots fired at his home found Aravapalli who had suffered several gunshot wounds.

He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, they said.

An investigation by detectives determined that he had been shot during an attempted robbery allegedly by Reid-John, according to the officials.

NBC4New York TV station reported quoting police that Aravapalli had won nearly $10,000 at the Parx Casino in Pennsylvania and John-Reid, who watched him cash the winnings, followed him to his home about 50 miles away.

After Aravapalli entered the house, John-Reid allegedly broke through a backdoor and shot him while his wife and daughter slept upstairs, according to police quoted by the station.

According to Aravapalli’s LinkedIn profile, he headed Aurex Laboratories since 2014.

He received a master’s degree in Information Technology from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and had been the CEO of two other companies, Ezminds and ePayroll.

Aurex Laboratories said on its website that it has a research organization in Hyderabad and a manufacturing facility in New Jersey and provides “world-class manufacturing, cutting edge laboratories, professional and well-trained personnel, and exceptional customer