A confrontation between a pest exterminator and a home owner in Leonardville, Kan., became fatal for one of the men last week.

Police reported that Howard Barrett, 49, stabbed Thomas James, 48, of Clay Center, Kan., in Barrett's home Thursday.

James worked for a pest-extermination company and had been given a key to Barrett's apartment in order to treat and spray it. Barrett entered his apartment, 111 S. Erpelding St., in the morning on Thursday and found James spraying for pests there, according to the police report.

Barrett and James had a confrontation, and Barrett stabbed James one or more times, leading to his death, police said.

At about 10:30 a.m., Barrett called 911 and said he needed an ambulance sent to his apartment because he had hurt someone, according to the police report.

Responding Riley County officers found James' body in Barrett's apartment and took Barrett to the Riley County Police Department for questioning. He was later arrested for second-degree murder, and his bond was set at $50,000, according to the report.

Police said there was no prior planning involved in the murder, and they had no reason to believe that Barrett had committed violent acts in the past.

"From what we can tell, this is a completely isolated incident," a police officer said.

Police said other residents in the apartment building said they knew Barrett well and that he had not been violent in the past.

There was an autopsy scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. The case was still under investigation as of Friday.