Purdue University student told police he used knife to kill roommate as he was sitting in a chair, affidavit says

Marlene Lenthang and Safia Samee Ali and Antonio Planas
·2 min read
321

The Purdue University student suspected in the killing of his roommate in their dorm room this week confessed to police he stabbed him to death, according to an affidavit.

The university police department received a call from the student, Ji Min Sha, about 12:44 a.m. Wednesday, the affidavit said.

When officers arrived at their first-floor room at McCutcheon Hall, they discovered the roommate, Varun Manish Chheda, in a chair with “multiple stab wounds and lacerations,” the affidavit said.

Varun Manish Chheda (WTHR)
Varun Manish Chheda (WTHR)

There was “blood spatter on the wall, a pool of blood on the floor and a folding knife on the floor,” according to the document.

Sha, a 22-year-old international student from South Korea, had what appeared to be blood on his clothing and on his body and was detained, the affidavit said.

When Sha spoke to detectives, he confessed to the slaying, according to the affidavit.

“Sha said the knife on the floor was his, and admitted he used the knife to kill Chheda while he was sitting in the chair where police found him,” the affidavit said. “Sha said after he killed Chheda he called 911 and remained in the room until the officers arrived and arrested him.”

However, the affidavit did not shed light on a motive in the attack. Purdue University Police Chief Lesley Wiete previously said she believed Chheda’s death was “unprovoked and senseless.”

Sha made his initial court appearance Friday in a small courtroom in the Tippecanoe County Jail before Tippecanoe County Magistrate Sarah Wyatt. He wore a black jumpsuit and orange slippers.

During the hearing, Sha kept his head down and arms crossed while looking flustered.

The Tippecanoe County prosecutor filed a 72-hour hold for Sha “to further investigate” the incident, the Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office said.

The hold will last through Thursday, as it excludes weekend days and Monday is a holiday, meaning courts will be closed. Formal charges are expected to be filed afterward.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com