A Malden, Massachusetts man was recently sentenced to life in prison after a heated argument turned fatal.

According to a Middlesex County press release, Joshua Roush, 46, was convicted of the 2001 murder of his roommate, Brian McDonald, 34.

Roust  was found guilty of first-degree murder. He’ll spend life in prison without the possibility of parole, Judge Cathleen Campbell ruled, following a seven-day trial in Middlesex Superior Court.

On August 15, 2021, Roush and McDonald got into a loud verbal argument, according to court documents.

Neighbors told police they could hear yelling and banging from inside the apartment.

Their argument turned violent, and McDonald reportedly crawled out of the apartment onto the porch while trying to escape. The victim was bleeding from multiple wounds.

When the police arrived on Presley Street, they found McDonald lying on the sidewalk. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

After lengthy negotiations with Roush, law enforcement gained access to the inside of the apartment. Once inside, they found blood splatter throughout the apartment and a bloody samurai sword. Roush also had blood on his body and clothes.

According to WHDH, Roush had previously spent 11 years in prison after he beat an elderly man with a hammer and was charged with second-degree attempted murder.

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[Feature Photo via CBS Boston/YouTube]