Mass. man jailed for life after killing roommate with samurai sword

A Malden man convicted of killing his roommate with a samurai sword after they argued has been sentenced to life in prison, officials said.

Joshua Roush, 46, of Malden, was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2021 the killing of 34-year-old Brian McDonaldaccording to a joint statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin.

On August 15, 2021, Malden police responded to a report of a man bleeding on Presley Street and found McDonald lying on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at the scene, they said in the statement.

Neighbors told police they heard screaming and banging coming from inside their apartment before McDonald, bleeding from his injuries, was dragged out of the apartment onto the porch and then onto the sidewalk, the release said.

When police entered the apartment, they found blood spatter in several rooms, as well as blood on the samurai sword and on Roush’s hands, clothes and shoes, the statement said.

Following a seven-day trial in Middlesex Superior Court, Judge Cathleen Campbell sentenced Roush to life in prison without eligibility for parole, the release said.

Emily Sweeney can be reached at [email protected]. Follow a @emilysweeney and on Instagram @emilysweeney22.