Man Arrested For Roommate's Murder Claims He Was Unaware That Air Rifle Could Kill

Altoona, Florida, -- A Florida man arrested on charges of murdering his roommate admitted to shooting the latter for annoying him. The 42-year-old man claimed that he was unaware an air rifle could kill a human being, police said.

The suspect identified as Jesse Franklin Hill was arrested on July 8 for murdering Ernie Wayne Wilburn, 44. After the incident on May 4, Hill attempted to get rid of the victim's body and the firearm used in the crime before he fled the scene, police said, Click Orlando reported.

In addition to the second-degree felony charge of manslaughter, Hill faces additional charges for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, as per Law & Crime.

An investigation revealed that on the day of the murder, Wilburn was locked out of the residence after he forgot his keys and yelled at Hill to let him in. Annoyed by Wilburn, Hill, who was inside his bedroom with his girlfriend, grabbed a Ruger .22 caliber air rifle and shot at him through the window.

When the deputies responded to the scene, they found Wilburn's body on the living room floor, covered with a sheet and couch cushions piled on top of it. The investigators said it was evident that the victim's body was removed from its original position as there were blood-like stains on the floor.

An autopsy report revealed that Wilburn’s death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the torso.

In a search executed at the residence, cops found the air rifle "hidden in shrubbery" outside of the house.

During interrogation, Hill admitted to the investigators that he shot his roommate as he "annoyed" him but claimed he did not think that his weapon could kill a human. Meanwhile, the homeowner told investigators that Hill knew the air rifle's power as he had previously scolded the latter for shooting it inside the residence.

After the murder, Hill left the home and told his several friends that he was "wanted for murder," although the law enforcement officers never told him that. Following his arrest last week, Hill is scheduled to appear in court on July 20.