An international Purdue University student who admitted to killing his roommate reportedly apologized for the murder and claimed he was blackmailed.
22-year-old Ji Min Sha was arrested last Wednesday after he called authorities around 12:44 a.m. to report that he killed his roommate Varun Manish Chheda with a knife in their dorm room.
Authorities arrived to find Chheda dead in a chair with several stab wounds to his head and neck.
Investigators say Chheda had been online gaming with his friends when he was stabbed to death.
At least one of those friends reported that they heard screaming but did not know what was going on.
Sha was found inside the same room covered in blood. He was taken into custody without incident.
A folding knife was also found in the room.
While walking into his initial hearing Sha apologized for killing Chheda: “ I’m very sorry” and said “ I was blackmailed, ” without elaborating.
Investigators, however, believe that the incident was unprovoked and senseless:
“ I believe this was unprovoked and senseless, ” Purdue University Chief of Police Lesley Weite said. “ Our hearts go out to the victim and his family and friends. I can’t even imagine what his family is going through. ”
Sha remains at Tippecanoe County Jail where he is being held without bond.