Malden Man Gets Life In Prison For Fatal Sword Attack

MALDEN, MA — A Malden man has been sentenced to life in state prison for a 2021 murder of another Malden man, the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.

Joshua Roush, 46, will not have the possibility of parole after being convicted of killing his roommate Brian McDonald, 34, according to officials.

Police said they found McDonald lying fatally injured on the sidewalk on Presley Street on Aug. 15, 2021, after "a possible fight."

Neighbors reported hearing "yelling and banging coming from inside the apartment" before seeing McDonald crawling out of the apartment to the porch, police said. Authorities later entered the apartment, where they found blood spatter in multiple rooms, a samurai sword with blood on it, and blood on Roush's hands, clothes, and shoes.

Investigators found that McDonald and Roush "had gotten into a loud verbal argument" which "became violent" when Roush "began attacking Brian McDonald with a samurai sword," officials said.

During the fight, McDonald attempted to escape the apartment, according to officials. He died after reaching the sidewalk.