Homicide suspect arraigned
BROWNSVILLE – Accused killer Tyrique Patterson kept his head down and nervously jiggled his leg as the charges against him were read by District Justice Herb Mitchell Tuesday evening at his arraignment. Patterson, 23, who has lived at 12 South Hills Terrace, Brownsville, for the past 18 months is accused of shooting Tony Thomas, 25, of 19 South Hills Terrace in the neck in the early morning hours of Nov. 29.
According to the affidavit filed in the case, Fayette County 9-1-1 was called at 3:21 a.m. on Nov. 29 by a woman who said there had been a shooting at South Hills Terrace.
Brownsville police arrived on the scene about five minutes later and found Thomas lying in a pool of blood, with two women trying to help him. Thomas was taken to Brownsville General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Members of Thomas’ family attended the arraignment Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Several of them fought back tears or wept openly as the details of his death were read.
Patterson is charged with criminal homicide, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, robbery of a motor vehicle and criminal trespassing.
Following the shooting, Patterson allegedly forced Sarah Bannish out of the car she was operating, then used the car to flee the scene.
The vehicle wrecked into a stone wall on High Street near the Brownsville police station. Thomas then reportedly ran down Water Street to the Pennsylvania American Water Company facility where he scaled a 12-foot fence topped with barbed wire. He left the area when confronted by an armed security guard.
Patterson was found the following Monday, Dec. 2, in Trenton, N.J., where several relatives live. He was held at the Mercer County, N.J. jail pending extradition.
Patterson last week waived his right to an extradition hearing. He was returned to Pennsylvania Tuesday by the Fayette County District Attorney’s Office.
Patterson told Mitchell that he would be represented by the Public Defender’s Officer.
Mitchell reminded Patterson to request a visit from the Public Defender at the Fayette County Prison, since such visits are not automatically assigned. Patterson is not eligible for bail because he is charged with homicide.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 15, 2003, at 1:00 p.m. before Mitchell.
District Attorney Nancy Vernon has said that the homicide was preceded by an argument between Patterson and Thomas’ brother at the Independent Elks Club on Brownsville Avenue. Details of that dispute have not been released.