Bensalem Man Killed Roommate Over Messy Apartment: Plea

BENSALEM, PA — A Bensalem man has admitted to shooting and killing his roommate during an argument over a messy apartment.

Gregory Hylton, 41, pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree murder and other charges, including having nearly a pound of marijuana in his bedroom at the time he shot and killed 25-year-old Sharif Simpson.

Simpson died from a gunshot wound to the chest that investigators say came from very close range and pierced his heart and lung on March 9.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, Hylton originally claimed on a 911 call that he and Simpson had been messing around and Simpson was accidentally shot with Hylton's 9-mm handgun.

But police found evidence of a struggle at the scene and bruises on Simpson's chest consistent with being struck by the front of a gun. Hylton eventually told investigators that he and Simpson had been arguing about a mess left in the apartment when Hylton pushed Simpson backward and hit him with the gun several times before the handgun discharged.

He claimed he didn't remember pulling the trigger and said the gun's safety was on.

After accepting Hylton's plea Friday, Judge Diane E. Gibbons ordered that his sentencing be held off until a sentencing investigation can be conducted. Hylton is being held at Bucks County Correctional Facility.