MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A 23-year-old man was arrested Sunday morning after he told police that he killed his roommate at Mount Sinai Medical Center in self-defense, Miami Beach police said.
The victim's son met with officers at the hospital at about 7 p.m. Saturday, where he told police the medical staff would not tell him his father's whereabouts, an arrest report said.
Officers were then directed to room 452 where the victim, who is described as a man in his 50s, was discovered lying on his back on the bathroom floor, and bleeding from the head, an arrest report said. Blood was also found on the bathroom walls.
Miami Beach police said that while officers were investigating the death, Andre Brown, who was sitting in a television lounge, turned to officers and told them "It was self-defense. I had to do it."
"He kept (expletive) around with the women," Brown told police. "I gave him clothes and he kept fighting me."
Brown was taken into custody, waived his Miranda warning and agreed to speak to police, an arrest report stated.
During an interview with police Brown said he and the victim were talking when he got up to use the bathroom. Brown told police the victim walked in on him in the bathroom and touched his private area, the arrest report stated, and in response he struck the victim more than 20 times.
Brown then began to choke the victim, the report said, and couldn’t remember much after that point until police walked in on him in the television room.
Brown has been arrested in an attempted second-degree murder charge along with a two counts of selling marijuana which stem from an outstanding warrant.
"This is a tragic incident that took place within the confines of our psychiatric health unit. Our deepest sympathies are with the deceased's family and friends," Joanna Palmer, a spokeswoman for the hospital said via an emailed statement. "The safety and well-being of our patients is our top priority. We continue to work with authorities in their ongoing investigation."