Man arrested for murder of his roommate in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – A man was arrested for murder on Thursday, June 13, according to a press release from the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD).

Officials said officers were called to the North Lapis Lane area around 12:30 p.m. on June 12 for a “welfare issue.”

According to FPD, someone called and reported that 27-year-old Jason Lawson “killed his roommate” after an argument in their apartment. The press release states that Lawson “killed the man on the night of June 8.”

When officers arrived at the apartment, they found a dead man on the kitchen floor and “evidence” that matched the witness’s statements. Officers then secured the crime scene for investigation, the press release states.

According to FPD, Lawson doused the victim “and his surroundings” with gasoline and then walked away. Officials said they found evidence that Lawson attempted to clean up the crime scene.

Lawson was found by Rogers police the next day and arrested on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, the news release said.

After being read his Miranda rights at the Fayetteville Police Department, Lawson confessed to the crime. He said during the argument, the victim “pointed a hammer at him” and then pulled out a pocket knife. Lawson claimed the victim “fell on the blade” and described “everything as a blur.” Lawson did not tell police where the knife was or any other details, claiming he could not remember, FPD said. Officials said in the release that Lawson was “misleading in many statements” during the interrogation.

Lawson was subsequently taken to the Washington County Detention Center and detained.

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