PA Man Charged In Shooting Death Of NJ Pharma Executive

UPPER DARBY, PA — Another Pennsylvania man has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of a New Jersey pharmacy executive who was shot in his Plainsboro home last month.

Devon Melchor, 26, of Upper Darby, was taken into police custody by authorities in Florida where he was attempting to board an international flight, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Fred Tavener of the Plainsboro Police Department said Monday morning.

Melchor was charged with one count of first-degree armed robbery and one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit armed robbery on Oct. 28 in connection with the death of Sree Aravapalli.

On October 26, around 3:38 a.m., authorities responded to a residence on Briardale Court following a report of shots fired. On arrival, they found Aravapalli, 54, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, Ciccone said.
Authorities said Aravapalli was fatally shot in his home during an attempted robbery. Police had charged Jekai Reid-John, 27, of Norristown, with one count of first-degree murder.

According to the investigation, Reid-John, and Melchor targeted Aravapalli at a casino in Pennsylvania and followed him home to his Plainsboro residence. He was at the Parx Casino in Bensalem where he cashed in roughly $10,000 in winnings before driving home, according to NBC News.

In a statement to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Eric Hausler, the CEO of Parx, said he was saddened by the incident and that the casino was cooperating with state and local law enforcement agencies.

Various law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Newcastle (Delaware) County Police Department NJ State Police Fugitive Unit were involved in the apprehension of Melchor, Ciccone said.

Aravapalli was the CEO of East Windsor-based Aurex Laboratories that develops and manufactures clinical supplies, tablets, and soft gel capsules.

Chief Tavener and the Plainsboro Police Department offered their condolences to the Aravapalli and said the incident was "unexpected and alarming" for the entire community.

"I want to reassure the Plainsboro community that our officers and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office are conducting a thorough and systematic investigation into this matter," Tavener said in a statement. "We will continue to conduct proactive and vigilant patrols throughout the Township and will update the community with the outcome of the investigation, when appropriate."

Meanwhile, Melchor remains in Florida pending an extradition hearing. Upon his return to New Jersey, he will be lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center pending a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court, Ciccone said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 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.

Story by Sarah Salvadore