A 79-year-old Florida man has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder after allegedly strangling his assisted living roommate to death during a violent altercation, according to police.
Miami-Dade County jail records show that Jerome Babij was taken into custody on August 26. According to a Miami Police Department arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, Babij and the victim had shared a room at the assisted living facility for about six months and had no documented history of problems before the incident.
The chaos unfolded when witnesses reported hearing shouting coming from the room, including someone screaming, “He’s trying to kill me!” When staff and other residents rushed in, they allegedly found Babij with his hands around his roommate’s neck.
Witnesses pulled Babij off the victim, but the affidavit claims he kicked the man, who was lying unresponsive on the floor, as they dragged him out. Once in the hallway, Babij allegedly grabbed a fire extinguisher and attempted to attack the witnesses before being restrained.
Babij reportedly told police that the victim had pulled a gun on him, but a search of the room revealed no firearms, according to investigators.
It remains unclear if Babij has entered a plea or retained an attorney. Authorities have not yet released the victim’s identity, and the investigation is ongoing.
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Author: What’s Up Team
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