Extradition process begins for murder suspect
The extradition process has begun for Tyrique Patterson who was arrested in New Jersey just days after allegedly shooting and killing a Brownsville man in late November. Patterson, 21, of 12 South Hills Terrace waived his right to an extradition hearing in New Jersey. Fayette County District Attorney Nancy Vernon’s office said Thursday that the paperwork is being processed to bring Patterson back to Fayette County.
Patterson is charged with criminal homicide, attempted aggravated assault, robbery of a motor vehicle and criminal trespassing. The charges stem from an incident in the early hours of Nov. 29 in which Patterson allegedly shot Tony Thomas, 25, of 19 South Hills Terrace in the neck. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Vernon, Patterson had been in an argument with Thomas’ brother at the Independent Elks Club on Brownsville Avenue just prior to the 3:23 a.m. shooting. The dispute carried over to South Hills Terrace, where Thomas was shot.
Patterson then allegedly pointed a gun at Michelle Banish and ordered her out of the car she was operating. He fled the scene in the car, only to wreck it in front of the police station. Patterson then ran down Water Street where he scaled a 12-foot, barbed-wire fence to gain access to the Pennsylvania American Water Co. property.
Once on the property, he was confronted by security guard Tom Bush, who is also a part-time police officer in Brownsville. Patterson then went back over the fence and disappeared.
Patterson was found in Trenton, N.J., on Monday, Dec. 2, after police there followed up on information that he had family living in the area. Patterson was taken into custody and has been held at the Mercer County, N.J., jail awaiting extradition.
Once Patterson is brought back to Pennsylvania, he will be arraigned and a preliminary hearing date will be set.