Pa. man admits to fatally shooting roommate over discarded Chick-fil-A bag

PHILADELPHIA — A Bucks County man told police he was so upset that his roommate left an empty Chick-fil-A bag in their apartment late Saturday, he initiated a violent argument that turned fatal.

Gregory Hylton, 40, has been charged with criminal homicide and possession of an instrument of a crime, according to court records. He remains in custody at the county jail, denied bail.

Hylton called police in Bensalem Township late Saturday, telling the dispatcher that he had accidentally shot his roommate, Shareif Simpson, 25, during an argument.

When the officers arrived at the unit the men shared in the Creekside Apartments, they found Simpson lying on a blood-stained bed in one of the apartment’s bedrooms, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case. Simpson was taken to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Gregory Hylton was upset about a fast-food bag left on the couch, authorities said, https://t.co/RoxHhsPdWD

— Courier-Post (@cpsj) March 11, 2019

Hylton told the officers that he and Simpson were co-workers and had been living together for several months. Investigators said the two worked at Dove Daily Care, a home health care service headquartered in Philadelphia’s Rhawnhurst neighborhood.

Earlier that evening, Hylton had called Simpson a “pig” because he had left an empty bag from the fast-food restaurant on the couch in the apartment’s living room, the affidavit states.

The two began to argue, and the dispute turned physical when Hylton shoved Simpson into Simpson’s bedroom. In there, the men wrestled on Simpson’s bed, during which Hylton pulled out a 9 mm handgun registered to him and hit Simpson in the shoulder with its muzzle.

Hylton said the gun had gone off accidentally, and that he “wasn’t even that mad” at his roommate, the affidavit said.

On Sunday, Simpson’s teammates on the Cumberland Valley Hitmen, a semi-professional football team that plays in Central Pennsylvania, mourned his death. In a Facebook post, the team wrote that their victory Saturday over the Harrisburg Sharks was “bittersweet.”

The NEAFL would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the Cumberland Valley Hitmen organization and to the family and friends of Mr. Shareif Simpson #18.

Mr. Simpsons life was cut short yesterday after... https://t.co/61oJ7fGDrZ

— NEAFL (@OfficialNEAFL) March 11, 2019

“It is with heavy hearts that we have to report that one of our brothers was murdered last night,” the post about Simpson said. “Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. You will be missed sir #18.”