Inset: Nigel Belser (Atlanta Police Department). Background: The Connector apartment complex in Atlanta, Georgia (WANF/YouTube).
A man stalked his victim’s apartment for more than an hour before shooting him dead in the head, authorities in Georgia say.
Nigel Belser, 21, faces charges of murder, aggravated assault, and illegal possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. According to Atlanta police, he is accused of killing Akash Banerjee, a 22-year-old student attending Georgia Tech, at an apartment complex on May 18. However, authorities have not disclosed any information regarding the nature of their acquaintance or if they were familiar with each other at all.
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An arrest affidavit accessed by local media reveals that video footage allegedly shows Belser, who attends Morehouse College, sneaking into Banerjee’s apartment building around 4 p.m. on the day in question. He reportedly ascended to the ninth floor using the stairs and attempted to enter the victim’s apartment by turning the door knob. It is stated that Belser then lingered within the building for over an hour.
When Banerjee left his apartment for a brief errand to a nearby gas station, returning about 10 minutes later, Belser was allegedly waiting in the stairwell as Banerjee made his way back.
“It appears that something caught [the victim’s] attention, which prompted him to reach out to the door of the stairwell, where the suspect was still hiding,” the affidavit reportedly said. “The victim quickly backs up, as he seems to be startled by his discovery.”
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The victim tried to fight back, but Belser allegedly shot him in the head. Banerjee was able to knock on an apartment door before collapsing.
“There is someone in front of my door lying on the floor,” a 911 caller said. “We heard a loud noise … Come quick because he’s apparently been shot in the head.”
Paramedics rushed Banerjee to the hospital but he succumbed to his injuries on May 20. Police released video of a person of interest the next day. Investigators identified Belser as a suspect and he turned himself into the Fulton County Jail on Sunday, officials said.
Belser’s attorney, Keith Adams, who represented Young Thug during the YSL trial, told ABC affiliate WSB his client is the victim, although he declined to get into details.
“He has no record whatsoever, strong ties to the community, a very strong family,” Adams told the TV station.
The defendant remains in the Fulton County Jail without bond.
