A former sheriff’s deputy from Florida has admitted to fatally shooting his roommate and fellow officer in the head, entering a guilty plea in court.

Andrew Lawson, 25, confessed to manslaughter charges on Thursday, almost three years after placing a 911 call to report the tragic shooting of his roommate, 23-year-old Austin Walsh. Both men were deputies at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and shared a home in Palm Bay. The incident occurred on the night of December 3, 2022, while both were off-duty and enjoying a video game session.

During a break, Lawson picked up a gun that he believed was unloaded and “jokingly” aimed it at the man he later described as his “best friend.” Lawson pulled the trigger twice and shot Walsh in the head, killing him immediately.

During a press briefing held shortly after the incident, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey described Lawson as “completely distraught and devastated” when Palm Bay police arrived at the scene. Officers discovered that Walsh had died instantly from the gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the location.

Sheriff Ivey characterized the shooting as a “clearly dumb and avoidable accident.” Offering insight into the events leading to the tragedy, he explained that Lawson had pointed the gun at Walsh in what he thought was a joke.

According to an affidavit acquired by Law&Crime, further details emerged about the incident. Lawson informed the police that during a break from playing Call of Duty, he picked up a pistol under the impression it was unloaded. After checking the gun’s status, Lawson aimed it at Walsh, who was standing in a doorway, and pulled the trigger, resulting in the fatal shot.

The gun did not go off. Lawson then “again pointed the firearm at Walsh and again pulled the trigger,” this time firing a bullet into Walsh’s head, killing him.

During the plea hearing on Thursday, an emotional Lawson took the stand on his own behalf, saying, “It breaks my soul to know that I took Austin’s future away from him, and because of what I did, not only will I never be able to talk to Austin again, but you guys won’t be able to, either.”

Local CBS affiliate WKMG reported that Walsh’s brother said, “You don’t point a firearm at another person without the intent to kill that person.”

Lawson’s sentencing hearing is scheduled to continue on Jan. 30. He reportedly faces up to seven years behind bars.