An argument between two roommates left one man dead.
On June 14 around 3:45 pm, the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man who had a head injury. When they arrived at the residence, deputies met a man outside the house. He led them inside the house to a bedroom, where they found the victim laying facedown.
According to the police report, the victim had been shot in the head. It was described as if the victim’s head had split open.
A rifle was found merely two feet away from the victim’s body.
The deputies conducted a safety sweep of the home, and that’s when they found a man named Henry McCarthy hiding in another bedroom. McCarthy, 36, was lying on a bed with a blanket covering him. According to the report, McCarthy was under the influence of alcohol or narcotics when he met with the deputies. They placed him in handcuffs and led him out to a patrol car.
The deputies soon learned that McCarthy and the victim were roommates. During the evening of June 13, the two men were drinking alcohol together when an argument broke out.
McCarthy told the deputies that the victim had become upset, and started yelling at him, telling him to shoot him. The victim allegedly threw two bullets at McCarthy, and once again told him to shoot him.
McCarthy allegedly loaded a rifle and then held the weapon with his finger on the trigger. The victim allegedly lunged at him with a box of ammunition in his hand.
McCarthy admitted to pulling the trigger.
The bullet reportedly hit the victim in the face. McCarthy said the victim fell forward onto his stomach near the entrance of the bedroom. McCarthy then noticed an exit wound from the bullet on the back of the victim’s head.
After he shot the victim McCarthy reportedly went to the bathroom and then returned to his bed, where he continued to drink Southern Comfort whiskey until he fell asleep. He didn’t call anyone to try and get help for the victim. He was charged with first degree murder and shooting at a dwelling or occupied building.
McCarthy’s case was first seen at the municipal court but was transferred to district court on June 18. A detention hearing was scheduled for June 25. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.
Staff Reports
