Authorities probe roommate’s shooting death

By Joe Johnson

Authorities are investigating a death of a 44-year-old man who was found shot to death in his room at the Lodge of Athens apartment complex.

Brian Benjamin Bellard reportedly had been found dead by his roommate late the night of October 10th after the two men had fought earlier in the evening.

Lewis Kern called 911 at 11:22 p.m. and said that after hearing a gunshot he found Bellard lying on his bed and not moving with a gun in his hand.

He told the responding police officers that he and Bellard had returned home from a bar downtown and had an argument about wanting to bring women to their apartment.

“Kern stated the argument got physical and they wrestled on the ground, breaking the table in the living room,” according to police, and afterwards Kern was preparing to take a shower when he heard the gunshot and then found Bellard in his bedroom.

The incident is being investigated by Athens detectives and an autopsy was to be conducted at the state medical examiner’s office.