Eugene Patterson charged: Words exchanged at barbecue end in gunfire

Eugene Patterson



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 45-year-old Eugene Patterson of Milwaukee faces two criminal counts for his alleged role in the shooting death of Willie Woods Jr. on Sunday, April 12th.

Woods, 22,  was shot shortly before 8 p.m. in a neighborhood on Milwaukee's northwest side. He died at the scene.

Patterson is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to the criminal complaint, Patterson and Woods were with several others grilling out on that Sunday evening. Patterson told officers Woods was "making statements that were mumbled and not entirely discernible, though Patterson stated that he took them as being negative or threatening in some way."

The complaint indicates Patterson told Woods to "leave him alone," but Woods "advanced and started to push or point into Patterson's forehead." That's the point when Patterson told investigators he "retrieved the revolver out of his right front pants pocket. He told Woods to back away. Woods nonetheless advanced and Patterson discharged the revolver twice in a downward direction. Two shots struck Woods -- and he later died.

If convicted on the homicide charge, Patterson faces up to life in prison.