A 79-year-old Florida man has been charged with the murder of his roommate at an assisted living facility in Miami.
Jerome John Babij faces a second degree murder charge, according to WPLG.
According to a police report, officers responded to Princess Gardens Assisted Living Facility at approximately 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday following a report of a fight between two residents.
The responding officers found the victim in a bedroom and nursing staff holding Babij down in a hallway.
Witnesses described hearing a disturbance in the room shared by Babij and his roommate for about six months. Upon entering, they discovered Babij on the bed, with his legs wrapped around the victim, choking him with his hands around the neck. The victim cried out, “he’s trying to kill me,” as staff members intervened and managed to pull Babij away.
He reported kicked the victim in the head and leg as he dragged out, and grabbed a fire extinguisher, trying to attack staff with it.
The staff restrained Babij on the floor until law enforcement arrived, but the victim could not be saved in time. He was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries.
Babij was treated for minor injuries to his hand.
Officials said Babij and the man he murdered had no problems prior to Tuesday. Police did not say what led to the fatal fight.
As reported by WTVJ, while at the hospital, Babij reportedly claimed that the victim “pulled a gun on me.” However, authorities did not find any weapons when they searched the room following the incident.
