Suspect in fatal shooting sought
A Brownsville man accused of killing a man in a Fayette County housing project early Friday morning remains at large. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Tyrique K. “Ghetto” Patterson, 23, of 12 South Hills Terrace. Patterson allegedly shot Tony Thomas in the neck in the midst of an argument along Fairgarden Street in the housing project.
Directly before the shooting, District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said that Patterson and Thomas’ brother had a verbal dispute at the Brownsville Elks Club.
“That altercation followed over to South Hills Terrace,” said Vernon.
She was unsure of the details of that fight.
Thus far, Brownsville police have found nine eyewitnesses to the 3:21 a.m. shooting who were within feet of Patterson and Thomas, said officer Autumn Fike.
After the shooting, police allege that Patterson pointed a gun at Michelle Bannish and ordered her out of a car owned by Sarah Bannish. He allegedly stole the car and fled the scene, crashing into a wall in front of the Brownsville Police Department, where he left the vehicle.
From there, police allege that Patterson ran to the Pennsylvania American Water Authority plant and scaled a 12-foot fence.
Inside, Vernon said Patterson encountered security officer Tom Bush, who is also a Brownsville police officer. Patterson escaped by again climbing the fence.
Patterson is charged with criminal homicide, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, robbery of a motor vehicle and criminal trespass.
Police also charged Patterson’s girlfriend, Tamika M. Withrow, with terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person, alleging that she waved a gun in the air and threatened bystanders at the time of the shooting.
Withrow allegedly said, “Anybody touches my man, I’ll kill them,” and pointed a gun at Mary Tobias while swearing at her.
Withrow, who lives with Patterson, was arrested after the shooting and is lodged in the county prison in lieu of $50,000 percentage bond.
Fike said Patterson is originally from New York and has ties in eastern Pennsylvania. After he left the water plant, police believe Patterson was driven out of the area in a minivan by an acquaintance.
Vernon said that police believe that a .38-caliber revolver found in Bannish’s wrecked car may have been the same gun used to kill Thomas.
Police described Patterson as a bald, 5-foot-10-inch black man weighing 165 to 170 pounds.
“He should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with any knowledge of his whereabouts is urged to call 911 or the state police,” said Vernon.