Bensalem Man Sentenced For Killing Roommate Over Messy Apartment

BENSALEM, PA — A Bensalem man will spend up to three decades in state prison for murdering his roommate last year during an argument over a messy apartment.

Gregory Hylton, 41, was sentenced to 15-30 years behind bars for the March 9 shooting inside a Knights Road apartment. Sharif Simpson, 25, was killed in the shooting.

Hylton told police that, immediately before the shooting, he and Simpson had been arguing about a mess in the apartment they shared. During the fight, Hylton pushed Simpson onto a bed, pulled a 9-mm handgun and hit Simpson with it several times before firing a single shot.

The shot, fired at what prosecutors called extremely close range, struck Simpson in the chest. Though he insisted he didn't remember pulling the trigger, Hylton pleaded guilty in October to third-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime and possession of marijuana.

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.

In addition to prison time, Hylton was ordered to make restitution of $1,150 to the Bucks County Victims Fund.