Suspect who killed Purdue roommate said he was ‘blackmailed’ before apologizing to family of victim

The suspected roommate killer at Purdue University said Friday that he had been ‘blackmailed.’

Before his first court appearance following the murder, Ji Min ‘Jimmy’ Sha, 22, told reporters he ‘was blackmailed’ and is ‘very sorry’ following the death of his roommate Varun Manish Chedda after midnight on October 5.

Purdue University student Varun Manish Chheda was playing video games with friends who heard his chilling screams as he was murdered through their gamer headsets earlier this week.

Chheda, 20, suffered multiple sharp force injuries to his body inside his dorm room at McCutcheon Hall.

His roommate, Ji Min Sha, was soon arrested.

At court, the alleged killer did not elaborate on the statement about blackmail.

After he called police to report the incident, Ji Min Sha admitted to the killing and said the knife used to stab Chedda to death belonged to him, according to a police affidavit.

According to police record, Chedda was found seated in a chair, covered in blood with multiple puncture wounds.

Video footage of Ji Min Sha shows the suspected killer being escorted by police into Tippecanoe County Jail, wearing a face mask as reporters eagerly waited for him 

Varun Manish Chheda, 20, was killed inside his room at McCutcheon Hall while playing online video games with his friends early Wednesday morning

Students leave notes on the ‘Unfinished P’ during a vigil for Varun Manish Chheda, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at Purdue University

Multiple people living in the dorm area recalled waking up to loud screams and noises. Pictured: Purdue University’s campus in West Lafayette, Indiana

Police have not yet formally charged Sha. a South Korean student studying cybersecurity, with the murder. Magistrate Judge Sarah Wyatt afforded prosecutors three more days to formally file murder charges against the student, who is being held without bond.

Sha’s next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, October 13. 

Some students said they heard Chheda’s distant screams Tuesday night throughout the building, but fellow student Andrew Wu heard him echo in his ear, he told 13News.

Arunabh Sinha, a childhood friend of Chheda, further confirmed to NBC News that Chheda was gaming with his friends and chatting through Discord when Sha allegedly stabbed him to death.

Sinha said his friends heard Chheda yell but didn’t know what the source of the commotion was until they woke up to the news about his death.

‘Losing a friend like Varun hurts hard,’ Sinha wrote on Facebook. He described Chheda as brilliant, humble, ethical and family-driven.

‘He was destined to make a large impact in our world and while we have been robbed of this opportunity, I am still highly appreciative to have known him since 1st grade. Rest in peace, Varun. We will miss you dearly.’

Suspected killer Sha had not been gaming with the group prior to the alleged murder.

Jin Min Sha, 22, was arrested in suspicion of murdering his roommate Chheda. He was the one that called police 

Purdue University police responded to a call at the McCutcheon Hall residential building to find Varun Manish Chheda, 20, dead inside his dorm room 

Chheda was a senior in data science at Purdue University and was only 10 days away from turning 21 at the time of his death

Arunabh Sinha,a childhood friend of Chheda, described the gamer as brilliant, humble, ethical and family-driven

Purdue University Police Department Chief Lesley Wiete said she believes the murder was ‘unprovoked and senseless.’

Residents at the hall said they were woken in the middle of the night by a ‘scream or some loud noises.’ 

Sha was an international student from South Korea studying cybersecurity. He was arrested after he called campus police to report Chheda’s death at 12.44am on Wednesday, Tim Doty, Purdue’s director of media and public relations, told the Indianapolis Star.

Footage showed Sha being escorted by police into Tippecanoe County Jail, wearing a face mask with his hand secured behind his pack. 

‘I love my family,’ Sha told reporters when asked why he committed the cruel act. 

The 22-year-old is charged with the murder of Purdue University student. He kept quiet and was briefly brought to reporters for a comment 

When asked by a reporter why he’d allegedly committed the crime, Sha simply replied, ‘I love my family’ before walking into custody

A motive for the crime hasn’t been released but Police Department Chief Lesley Wiete said she believes the murder was ‘unprovoked and senseless’

Chheda was a senior studying data science at Purdue University and was only 10 days away from turning 21 when he died. 

Childhood friend Wu said Chheda’s death was ‘totally out the blue.’

‘He doesn’t talk about his roommate ever,’ Wu told NBC News while explaining his friend wasn’t the type to begin conflict. 

‘His roommate never comes up when we’re playing games.’

Wu recalled his best memories with Chheda and remembered him as being unique and selfless.

‘We played games together all the time, video games, card games, you name it. Even hundreds of miles away, for the past four years in college we still kept in touch. We’d hang out six to seven times a week just to play games together,’ Wu said. 

‘I haven’t met someone who’s so kind like he is. He always notices when someone’s uncomfortable. He’s always willing to compromise. He’ll always sacrifice himself to help other people.’ 

A memorial was placed at the campus as students delivered hand written notes and flowers in remembrance of their classmate

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Artificial candles were scattered around the giant P – which stands for Purdue University 

Students were seen embracing each other during a memorial for Chheda on October 5

Chheda’s alma mater, Park Tudor School, remembered their former student in a heart felt tribute post 

Chheda received an outpouring of shock at the news of his death from friends and loved ones online 

The victim wasn’t just a star gamer but a gifted student as well. He was a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program in 2020, according to a Facebook post. 

Chheda was a former student at Indianapolis’ private Park Tudor School.

‘We are extremely saddened by the tragic death of Varun Chheda, Park Tudor class of 2020,’ read a post from the institution commemorating the lost alum.

‘We extend our deepest condolences to the entire Chheda family. Park Tudor counselors are available to assist any members of our community who may require support; please keep the Chheda family in your thoughts and prayers.’ 

‘Varun Chheda was a very kind, gentle young man with an absolutely brilliant mind, and he would have done amazing things in and for this world,’ wrote Julie Laughner, the mother of a friend of Chedda’s. ‘It’s a tragedy that his life was senselessly taken before he had a chance to do so.’ 

Chheda’s funeral will be held on October 9, according to his obituary. 

Chheda pictured with a good friend Parker at their high school graduation in 2020