A man who identified himself as the shooter called the News 12 newsroom at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and said he was preparing to surrender to police.

Jimmy Avila, 44, was arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

As police banged on his apartment door, Jimmy Avila spoke exclusively to News 12 reporter Nadia Galindo over the phone claiming self-defense.

News 12 immediately called the police and recorded the phone call.

"I didn't mean to do this, but I had to do it, these people were threatening my life," Avila said over the phone, "The police is at my door."

Avila can be heard telling police that he wanted to wait for a News 12 crew to arrive before he surrendered.

The shooting happened inside and outside an apartment building on College Avenue where Avila lives.

According to police, a 37-year-old man was shot and killed. Two other people, including a 62-year-old and a 59-year-old were both shot and are expected to survive.

Family members of the 62-year-old victim live on the same floor as Avila. They said he was taking out the garbage when the gunfire erupted.

"I just heard some gunshots fired and long story short I saw my mom drag him into the building and there was blood all over the place," said Kingan, a neighbor.

A woman who did not want to be identified by name said her husband was the one shot.

"I pulled my husband into the house, and he chased the super out of the building," she said.

Surveillance video shows police rush into the building just after 8:30 a.m.. A man who identified himself as a close friend to Avila says Avila called him around 8:45 a.m.

"He said somebody got killed, that's all, he said it twice than hung up, he's very manic at times, I'm his best friend he has no one but me," said Robert L.

Sources say the violence escalated from an ongoing dispute between neighbors over access to the building's backyard. Robert claims Avila had problems ongoing problems with the building's workers, who previously threatened his life.

"The maintenance worker is the one who said to him and said I have kids to feed and threatened his life, he said if you don't cut it off, and stop calling 311 you will be killed," said Robert L.

News 12 obtained copies of police reports that were filed against neighboring tenants in the building for harassment and menacing in July 2025.

No arrests have been made.