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Florida man shoots, kills brother over cheeseburger: police

Posted at 5:38 PM, May 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-06 17:38:46-04

Police say Benjamin Middendorf shot his own brother to death in a dispute over a cheeseburger. (St. Cloud Police Dept.)

ST. CLOUD, Fla. — An Osceola County man is facing first-degree murder charges after police say he shot and killed his brother during an argument over a cheeseburger.

St. Cloud Police received a call just after 10 p.m. about a shooting at a home in the 600 block of 6th Street, according to Central Florida News 13.

According to investigators, Benjamin Middendorf, 25, shot his brother, Nicholas Middendorf, 28, in the chest with a 9mm handgun during an argument.

Nicholas Middendorf died at the home.

“This is an impulsive incident that happened. Maybe anger, rage. But it was definitely over a verbal dispute that sadly, it was over a cheeseburger,” St. Cloud Police Department spokesperson Denise Roberts said. “It’s something that could have possibly been prevented, if he had held back those emotions.”

An arrest affidavit says their mother and the shooting victim, Nicholas, had been drinking with friends. Benjamin told detectives he does not drink.

Benjamin Middendorf was arrested on charges of premeditated first-degree murder. He was taken to the Osceola County Jail and is being held on no bond.