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Night of partying ends in slaying
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, TAMPA -- Roommates Randall Warhurst and Scott Baertsch partied together almost until dawn Sunday, officials said. But after returning to their apartment off N Himes Avenue, the two 25-year-olds got into an argument. Baertsch got his gun and shot Warhurst, who died at the scene, said Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter. Baertsch, 25, admitted to the shooting and called 911 about 6 a.m., Carter said. Baertsch "was sitting there waiting for the deputies when they got there," she said. Baertsch was charged with second-degree murder. According to Sheriff's Office records, he was arrested in 1998, and again three months ago on charges of driving under the influence, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held without bail. The slaying occurred at Altamonte Apartments, which one neighbor described as a magnet for party-loving young adults. In the apartment of Warhurst and Baertsch, Christmas lights and an inflatable Budweiser blimp could be seen past the guarded doorway. Melanie Graham said she often asked the roommates to turn their music down because the loud noise was shaking the pictures on her walls. "They were very big partyers," she said. "They were friendly, never in a bad mood. I never heard people fighting. It's scary." Graham said she heard what sounded like banging on her door at 3 or 4 a.m. She looked through the peephole but did not open the door, she said.
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