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VALPARAISO | A murder charge was filed Friday against a Valparaiso resident who told officers he shot his friend Wednesday just minutes after catching him attempting to steal his cologne and the rifle used in the shooting, police said .

Abraham Bratcher said he took the Smith & Wesson AR 15 back from 31-year-old Gerid Forste and the two ended up in a tugging match with the rifle, at which time he wrestled it away and shot Forste, according to charging information.

Bratcher, 34, reportedly said Forste indicated he had been shot and then died.

An autopsy done Thursday revealed the Kouts resident was shot once in the chest and twice in the legs. Police believe the chest wound proved fatal.

Bratcher spent the next 20 minutes calling his father, his sister and the man who is leasing the Chandana Point apartment and owner of the gun before calling 911, according to charging information. He reportedly told the dispatcher, "My friend got shot" and said the shooting was done in self-defense after Forste attempted to steal the gun.

Officers responding to a report of gunfire said Bratcher initially told them everything was fine. Yet police found upon further investigation of the ground-floor apartment a shattered patio door and Forste on the floor.