Aareon Berryman (pictured), 18, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder
Tennessee police say a teenager admitted to killing a married couple inside their Memphis apartment and then set the building on fire.
The Memphis Police Department charged 18-year-old Aareon Berryman with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated arson on Saturday.
Berryman was also slapped with two drug-related offenses, including possession marijuana with the intent to manufacture or sell, and possession of ecstasy with the intent to manufacture or sell.
Police said that Berryman was taken into custody after officers responded to hearing two gunshot coming the Clearbrook apartment building, located in the 3500 block of Tall Oaks Circle, at around 12pm , AJC.com reported.
After arriving to the scene, officers say they saw the teenager running northbound from the building which had already been engulfed in flames.
The Memphis Fire Department discovered the bodies of Brandon and Regina Allen (pictured), who were pronounced dead on the scene
Berryman was also slapped with two drug-related offenses, including possession marijuana and ecstasy with the intent to manufacture or sell
Authorities caught Berryman following a brief foot chase, and asked him if anyone else was still in the burning apartment building.
The suspect responded by saying that two people remained inside the property where he ‘left them.’
Police claim that Berryman admitted to killing both victims, stealing their property, and setting their home on fire
The Memphis Fire Department later discovered the bodies of Brandon and Regina Allen, who were pronounced dead on the scene.
‘It’s like a numbness. You’re just speechless. You’ve got frustration not knowing. Not knowing, that’s what bothers me,’ said DJ Hewlett, Brandon’s father, told local affiliate FOX13.
Police claim that Berryman admitted to killing both victims, stealing their property, and setting their home on fire.
AJC.com also reported that the suspect was in possession of a AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a loaded handgun, two jars of marijuana, three plastic bags of marijuana, three prescription pill bottles, and a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid at the time of his arrest.
Fire Department officials said at least half of the 16 apartment units in the building were completely or partially destroyed in Saturday’s blaze.
The total damage was estimated at $254,000 for buildings and $76,000 in its contents, AJC.com added.