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Man, 19, Held In Pellet Gun Death Of Roommate, 18

OVID (WWJ/AP) - Clinton County authorities say an 18-year-old man who at first appeared to be overdosing on drugs actually was suffering from a pellet gun wound that led to his death. His 19-year-old roommate is jailed on a murder charge.

A friend called 911 on Dec. 21 saying David Grant appeared to have taken a drug overdose, said Ovid police Chief Phil Cooley.

Emergency responders were told Grant had been smoking synthetic marijuana. He had trouble breathing and died in the ambulance en route to the hospital, Cooley told the Lansing State Journal.

"At that time we thought it was an overdose and nothing else," Cooley said.

But an autopsy determined that Grant died of internal bleeding from a wound, and authorities determined that Grant was shot in the back by his roommate.

Aaron Feliu was arraigned Tuesday in Clinton County District Court on a second-degree murder charge.

Feliu "ultimately provided us with information" that he shot the pellet gun that killed Grant, said sheriff's Detective Sgt. Fritz Sandberg.

The office of defense lawyer Ronald Zawacki said he was out-of-town and expected to speak Wednesday with Feliu.

Grant and Feliu graduated from Ovid-Elsie High School and lived together for a few months, police said.

Grant was a varsity tennis player and bowler, according to his obituary. A funeral service is scheduled for Thursday.

TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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