Florida Man Shot Best Friend in the Back of the Head After Vaping Dispute, Police Allege

In a twisted turn of events, a Florida man is facing a murder charge after police said he shot his best friend in the back of the head following an argument over vaping inside their home. Later, he tried to pass off the killing as “play fighting.”

Elisha Christopher Landry, 28, was arrested on May 18 and was charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of his roommate and close friend, Shaun Allen Hennigh, 34. Authorities stated that the shooting happened on April 17 at the home the men shared on Tangerine Avenue South in Gulfport.

According to a probable cause affidavit from the Gulfport Police Department, Landry waited more than 4 hours before calling 911. During the call, he told the dispatcher, “My best friend’s shot in the garage.”

He was then asked whether Hennigh had shot himself. To which Landry allegedly replied, “I am not sure.” He also claimed that he had been sitting with the body for "30 f**king minutes.”

However, investigators said neighbours heard a single gunshot and a car alarm sounding at 12:32 a.m., nearly 4 hours before the emergency call was made at 5:04 a.m.

Responding officers found Hennigh dead on the garage floor. Police said the body was cold to the touch, rigor mortis had started, and dried blood footprints were visible around the scene.

Police said Landry gave several conflicting accounts of how the shooting occurred.

At first, investigators said, Landry claimed his friend returned home angry before going into the garage to smoke. He later alleged the two were “play-fighting” near the driveway when Hennigh grabbed a 9mm handgun from a waistband holster.

“No dude! We were just twisting around,” Landry told an officer when asked whether Hennigh had held the gun to his own head.

Moments later, according to investigators, Landry changed his account again, saying, “He didn’t grab it out of my holster.”

During a later interview at the police station, Landry reportedly refused to explain how the gun discharged. Detectives said he responded, “I can’t tell you.”

Investigators said physical evidence did not match Laundry’s claims that the shooting was accidental. Although he said he held Hennigh after the gun went off, police noted there was only a minimal amount of blood on his jeans, despite the large amount of blood at the same.

Authorities also said that the suspect admitted to changing his clothes before officers arrived. He had pulled a pair of jeans over the shorts. He had been wearing it during the shooting.

Detectives said the crime scene showed signs that the body had been moved. Blood batters were found outside near a bench and driveway. They also found smears “consistent with body being dragged from outside the garage to the inside.”

Landry’s girlfriend told Police the argument began upstairs when the suspect became enraged because Hennigh was vaping inside the house. She said Hennigh, then went downstairs to the garage while Landry followed with a handgun tucked into his waistband.

Later, the police also found text messages showing the roommates had argued for months over unpaid bills. In January, the suspect forced Hennigh to leave the house because he was inconsistent with his portion of the bills.

An autopsy has ruled Hennigh’s death a homicide caused by a single intermediate-range gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Currently, Landry is being held without bond at the Pinellas County Jail.