According to Georgia authorities, a man shot his victim dead in the head after stalking his apartment for over an hour.
The 21-year-old Nigel Belser is charged with aggravated assault, murder, and possessing a firearm while committing a felony.
He killed Georgia Tech student Akash Banerjee, 22, at an apartment complex on May 18, according to Atlanta police. However, authorities have not disclosed how or why the two knew one another, if at all.
Belser, a Morehouse College student, entered Banerjee’s building covertly at approximately 4 p.m. on the day in question, climbed the stairs to the ninth story, and twisted the door knob on the victim’s apartment, according to an arrest document that local media outlets were able to access.
Belser apparently spent more than an hour inside the building after that.
About ten minutes after leaving his residence for a little run to a local gas station, Banerjee came back. According to reports, Belser was hiding in the stairway when Banerjee returned.
“It appears that something caught [the victim’s] attention, which prompted him to reach out to the door of the stairwell, where the suspect was still hiding,” according to the affidavit. “The victim quickly backs up, as he seems to be startled by his discovery.”
Belser allegedly shot the man in the head when he attempted to defend himself. Before he passed out, Banerjee managed to knock on the door of an apartment.
“There is someone in front of my door lying on the floor,” according to a 911 caller. “We heard a loud noise … Come quick because he’s apparently been shot in the head.”
Read Also: Young Nursing Student Dies in DUI-Related Crash in Southern California
Banerjee was taken to the hospital by paramedics, but on May 20, he passed away from his wounds. The following day, police made a person of interest’s footage public. Belser handed himself in to the Fulton County Jail on Sunday after investigators identified him as a suspect, according to officials.
Although he refused to provide specifics, Belser’s lawyer, Keith Adams, who defended Young Thug during the YSL trial, stated that his client is the victim.
“He has no record whatsoever, strong ties to the community, a very strong family,” Adams stated.
Without bond, the defendant is still being held at the Fulton County Jail.
