Illinois officer faces murder charge in roommate's fatal shooting

Illinois police officer has been charged with first-degree murder after authorities accused her of fatally shooting her roommate, alleging she gave multiple conflicting accounts of what happened and that the victim had gone to check on her after receiving alarming Snapchat photos.

Officer allegedly changed account of fatal shooting multiple times

According to charging documents cited by Law&Crime, 27-year-old Caitlynn J. Girkin was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the March 10 death of her roommate, 29-year-old Adolfo Cazares, at their home in Creve Coeur, Illinois.

Girkin, who was serving with the Creve Coeur Police Department at the time, called 911 at about 2:15 a.m. and reportedly claimed that Cazares had shot himself with her personal firearm.

Responding officers found Cazares lying in the hallway with gunshot injuries, while a handgun was recovered from Girkin's bedroom. Because Girkin was a local police officer, the Illinois State Police took over the investigation.

Investigators allege Girkin later provided several different versions of events.

According to court records, she initially claimed Cazares entered her room holding a gun, that she reached for it and heard a gunshot before he admitted he had shot himself.

Authorities said she later changed her account, claiming Cazares had entered her room with his sweatpants pulled down before she wrestled the gun away and shot him. Weeks later, she reportedly told investigators the firearm had been on her nightstand when Cazares entered, and that she shot him after fearing he would sexually assault her.

Prosecutors said those later claims contradicted her earlier statements, in which she allegedly said Cazares had not made sexual advances toward her.

Snapchat photos allegedly prompted roommate to check on officer

Investigators said Girkin told them Cazares went to her bedroom after she sent him Snapchat photos showing herself holding a gun to her head and placing the weapon in her mouth.

Authorities have not indicated that Cazares was armed when he entered the room under Girkin's final version of events.

Girkin is expected to appear in court again on Thursday.

According to his obituary, Cazares enjoyed travelling, playing video games with his nephews and spending time with his cat, Bookero. His family described him as "funny and sweet" and deeply loved by relatives and friends.