A Denver man who is paid to house and care for people who have developmental disabilities is accused of killing one of his residents by shoving him across a room, according to police.
Ben Garbooshian, 39, was arrested Saturday and accused of second-degree murder after he allegedly pushed the man, causing him to fall back and hit his head on a couch and the living room floor, according to an arrest warrant.
The man, who has not yet been publicly identified, was brought to the hospital, where he died hours later, police said.
Garbooshian received money from the government to care for people with intellectual developmental disabilities to stay at his home and receive care, police said.
Police and firefighters arrived at Garbooshian’s home, in the 3200 block of South Utica Street, at about 2 p.m. to find the man lying in the living room with a possible head injury, an arrest warrant details.
Police gave the following account of what happened before the man’s death:
Garbooshian was in the basement of his house and the victim was upstairs, even though he requires constant supervision, a witness told police. Garbooshian placed a bean bag chair at the top of the stairs leading to the basement.
When Garbooshian walked upstairs and began talking to the victim, the victim was holding the bean bag chair. Garbooshian then pushed the bean bag chair and the victim “flew back” 5 feet, before hitting his head on the frame of the living room couch and then the floor.
Police did not provide additional details regarding the victim or indicate how many people are under Garbooshian’s care.
Garbooshian declined to be interviewed by police and asked for an attorney.
His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.