Monday, July 26, 2010

Downtown Shooter Charged

Marion Co. Prosecutor Carl Brizzi detailed fourteen criminal charges against Shamus Patton, the 17-year-old who police say fired a gun and shot nine young victims downtown a little more than a week ago during an Indiana Black Expo event for teens as part of the group's Summer Celebration. All but two of the charges are felonies. Because one of the charges involve criminal gang activity, Brizzi explained the juvenile's case was automatically waived into adult court. Brizzi alleges Patton belonged to a gang known as the Ratchet Boyz and was shooting at members of a gang known as the Grimmie Boyz. A copy of the probable cause affidavit can be viewed on WISH-TV's website here.

It is interesting that police had executed a search warrant against Patton in May during which it obtained evidence of his criminal gang activity. Police claim spent bullet cartridges found at the shooting scene were consistent with unspent cartridges recovered from Patton during its May search of his home. Police recovered fifteen spent cartridges in the same two crime scene where the nine youths were shot. An crime lab analysis says all of the spent cartridges originated from the same firearm. During IMPD's May search of Patton's home, a gun was discovered on his person in violation of state firearm laws requiring a permit and being of at least 18 years of age to carry a concealed weapon. Police found one unspent cartridge on Patton's person when he was arrested last week, but no gun was found on him.

It is extremely disturbing that Patton had been arrested no fewer than nine times as a juvenile offender over the past two years but was still roaming the streets freely, even after the May search warrant by police turned up evidence of his criminal gang activity. Patton should have been locked up in a juvenile detention facility where he wouldn't have been able to commit the heinous crimes police now allege he committed. It is also disturbing that none of the victims' statements according to the probable cause affidavit seemed to know why Patton would have been firing at them. As I've said previously, our law enforcement and prosecutors failed us miserably in dealing with this troubled youth, in addition to his parents. Police and prosecutors need to rethink the way they handle juvenile offenders to stop them while they are committing less serious crimes before they have the opportunity to commit more serious crimes.

UPDATE: Like father, like son? The Star's story on the charges today indicates Patton's father, Damon Patton, has been in prison most of his life. It started with a cocaine possession conviction and later elevated to armed robbery and attempted armed robbery convictions. His 35-year-old father is currently is the Westville Correctional facility for domestic battery.

6 comments:

Downtown Indy said...

It was also troubleing that one of the people that got shot was wearing a home-detention ankle bracelet.

Do those things simply not work or are the people that supposedly monitor them just not pay attention?

Gary R. Welsh said...

Good question.

CircleCityScribe said...

A prediction: Shamus will hire attorney Paul Page, business associate of prosecutor "Corrupt" Carl Brizzi...There will be a luncheon at Harry & Izzy's with "Corrupt" Carl, Defense Attorney/Business Associate of "Corrupt" Carl, and Shamus. Attorney Page will explain how Shamus is sorry for shooting up the downtown area. Attorney Page will receive a substantial fee for his services. Shamus will enter a guilty plea to Disorderly Conduct, conduct 1 hour of community service as a diversion to prosecution and the file will be closed.

Indy4U2C said...

This is the result of that left-wing radical Juvenile Court judge, who believes all these young violent predators need is a hug and phone call to their guardian.

She won't allow some cases to be filed...is that arrogant or what?

Why can't the prosecutor file charges with the court?

Go in the court any day and you'll see very few waiting to have a case heard....she just turns them loose to be predators on us! This predator should have been locked up when this crime occurred!

Gary R. Welsh said...

Patton doesn't fit the profile of the clients Page represents. Not even Brizzi would do something like this in a case like this one.

Marycatherine Barton said...

But still, let us not forget what Bill Quigley calls the "Systemic Racism in the U.S. Criminal justice System". He starts, "The biggest crime in the U.S. criminal justice system is that it is a race-based institution where African-Americans are directly targeted and punished in a much more aggressive way than white people."