The suspect accused of killing his roommate at Purdue University claimed he had been “blackmailed” during his first court appearance Friday.
Speaking to reporters in a video, Ji Min “Jimmy” Sha, 22, said he was “very sorry” when asked if he had a message for the family of the victim, Varun Manish Chheda, 20 years.
Sha faces a preliminary charge of murder.
He was granted a 72-hour continuance in his case inside Tippecanoe County Jail Magistrate Court, according to court documents.
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Fox 59 said that while court documents filed against Sha Friday give more information about Chheda’s death, they offer little information about her motive.
Ji Min Sha, 22, was identified as the suspect by Purdue Police Chief Lesley Wiete during a news conference.
(Purdue Police)
Sha, who is an international student from Korea and majoring in cybersecurity, was arrested after Purdue police say he made a 911 call at 12:44 a.m. ET about the death.
The Tippecanoe County Coroner told Fox News Digital that Chheda had been killed by “multiple blunt force traumatic injuries” and that the manner of death is homicide.
Fox 59 said Purdue records show police officers spoke with Sha, who had blood on his clothes and body, and that Chheda was found sitting in a chair covered in blood and a folding knife on the floor of the his room
A student, name not given, holds a candle during a vigil for Varun Manish Chheda, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Varun Manish Chheda, a Purdue student, was killed inside McCutcheon Hall early. Wednesday.
(USA Today Network via Reuters Connect)
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The broadcaster said Sha allegedly admitted that the knife on the ground was his and that he had used the knife to take Chheda’s life.
He has not yet been formally charged.
Sha’s initial hearing is scheduled for next Thursday at 2pm ET.
WHHR reported Thursday that police confirmed Chheda had been playing online with friends the night she died, and that friend Andrew Wu told the outlet that he heard screams through the gaming platform.
Varun Manish Chheda, 20, was murdered in his Purdue University dorm earlier this week.
(Sycamore School)
Chheda, a data science major, is widely remembered as a kind, intelligent and caring person.
Wu, who went to school with Chheda, told Fox News Digital last week that his friend never talked about his college roommate in Indiana.
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“I guess I can’t stress enough, he’s a very, very good person. I think one of the best people I’ve ever met, for sure,” he recalled. “He’s super, super friendly.”
Chheda’s family has asked people to donate to the Riley Children’s Foundation in her memory. Over $2,000 has been raised so far.
