Witness: Murder suspect shook man’s hand, shot him

A man accused of killing a 19-year-old early Tuesday greeted him by shaking his hand and immediately shooting him, a witness told Orange County deputies.

Benjamin Heyward Jr., 31, is accused of first-degree murder in the killing of Matthew Jafari. He was arrested within fewer than five hours of Jafari’s death.

Jafari was giving his friend — Heyward’s 19-year-old former roommate — a ride to Magnolia Court Condominiums on Forest City Road so the two could settle some problems they were having, deputies said. Deputies did not say what the arguments were about.

Jafari and his friend met Heyward behind a building near the tennis courts at the complex, deputies said. Heyward walked up to them with two other men, shook Jafari’s hand, pulled out a black handgun and shot him in the head, deputies said.

Jafari’s friend immediately started running, he later told deputies. Heyward fired at him, hitting his arm, deputies said.

Deputies soon found Heyward in one of the units in the apartment complex. They did a “protective sweep” of the apartment and took Heyward about 9:30 a.m. to the Sheriff ’s Office headquarters, records show.

The two men who were with Heyward were identified but not arrested. They are not facing charges, sheriff’s spokeswoman Jane Watrel said.

Heyward told deputies that he used to live with Jafari’s friend but denied shooting the two, records show.

As he was searched during his booking into the Orange County Jail, Heyward gave jail personnel a tied plastic bag with what looked like methamphetamine, records show.

Heyward is being held on no bond at the Orange County Jail. He faces charges of murder, attempted murder and possession of methamphetamine.