An elderly man in Texas is facing murder charges after allegedly shooting his roommate following a heated exchange. The 81-year-old, identified as Douglas Ervin from Richardson, a suburb of Dallas, is accused of killing 59-year-old Gregory Johnson at their shared residence last week, local law enforcement officials reported.
According to the police, Ervin calmly dialed 911 to report the incident himself. When asked by the dispatcher if the victim might still be alive, Ervin reportedly responded with a nonchalant “nah, he’s dead.” He was subsequently arrested at the scene without any resistance.
Upon their arrival at the home on Wake Drive, officers discovered a shotgun, which they believe was the murder weapon. The motive behind the fatal shooting is still under investigation. A third individual, also a roommate, was present at the time of the incident but was unharmed.
When questioned by the police, Ervin reportedly revealed that he and Johnson had been in a dispute. He claimed that Johnson had made a disrespectful remark as he walked past Ervin’s bedroom, which allegedly provoked Ervin to retrieve his shotgun and open fire.
Ervin also reportedly complained about Johnson’s behavior as a roommate, citing issues such as leaving the front door open and lights on. However, he also allegedly admitted to the police that Johnson was unarmed and did not pose any immediate threat to him at the time of the shooting.
Johnson’s body was found outside a bedroom in the house, although it remains unclear whether the third roommate witnessed the incident. Ervin is currently being held at the Dallas County Jail, with bail set at $200,000.