Indian-American IT professional shot dead in Cary, North Carolina

An Indian-American man was shot dead on an afternoon stroll to community park near his home in Cary, North Carolina, August 27.

According to the Cary police’s brief made to the media, a 911 call was made around 4pm about a wounded man near the community pool.

The woman who made the 911 call reportedly heard five gun shots ring out.

According to heraldsun.com, the victim was Selvaraju Vellingiri.

“There has been no arrest made yet,” Siva Moopanar, a Tamil community leader who is also president of ITServe Alliance’s Chicago chapter, told indica News August 30.

Vellingiri and his wife were active in the community and he was a former board member of the Tamil Sangam of Carolina. His wife, Kalaiselvi Sulur, is a current board member.

Moopanar said that since they have not found the killer, the family is not supposed to talk to the media.

“I am sure it is not a hate crime,” Moopanar said. “He was into the IT profession, but I am not sure where he was working.”

An Indian-American who lives in Cary said the murder had alarmed the community.

“Yes, the community is tight-lipped, but we are concerned about an Indian being shot during afternoon walk; it’s alarming,” said the person, requesting anonymity.

Cary has in recent years attracted many IT companies and seen an influx of Indian-American IT workers. Many call it the Silicon Valley of the East Coast.

Inigo Periathambi, present president Tamil Sangam of Carolina, told indica News that law enforcement were working with Vellingiri’s family.

North Carolina Senator Wiley Nickel (Democrat, District 16) posted on Facebook: “My heart aches for the family of Selvaraju Vellingiri. He was murdered during an afternoon walk in his neighborhood in Cary. I encourage the Cary Police Department to act swiftly in this investigation. He leaves behind a wife and a young daughter.”