Accused cop killer arraigned

Accused cop killer indicted
July 27, 2011

Utica (WSYR-TV) – A man accused of killing an Oneida County Sheriff’s Deputy at a home in Knoxboro was indicted by an Oneida County Grand Jury on Wednesday.

The most serious charge 41-year-old Christian Patterson was indicted on is aggravated murder.

He will be arraigned on Friday morning.

Patterson is accused of shooting Deputy Kurt Wyman during a standoff on June 7. He was in St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica until July 12 when he was moved to Oneida County Jail. He was initially arraigned in the hospital.

If convicted, Patterson could face life in prison without hope of parole.

Photo of alleged deputy killer released
June 14

Utica (WSYR-TV) - The Oneida County Sheriff's Office has released a booking photo of the man charged with murdering a deputy during a standoff in June. Christian Patterson is accused of fatally shooting Deputy Kurt Wyman in the neck on June 7.

After Patterson allegedly pulled his trigger, other deputies fired back. Patterson was hit several times. It appears from his booking photo that he is wearing a sling on his arm.

Patterson is charged with aggravated murder, and faces life in prison without parole if he is convicted.

Suspect arraigned for death of Deputy Kurt Wyman
June 23

Utica (WSYR-TV) - The man who allegedly shot and killed Oneida County Sheriff's Deputy Kurt Wyman during a standoff was arraigned Thursday afternoon at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Utica. Christian Patterson is recovering from his wounds there.

Patterson is accused of fatally shooting Deputy Wyman in the neck on June 7. Other officers fired back, hitting Patterson several times.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for next Wednesday at a location still to be determined, based on Patterson's medical condition at that time. If found guilty of aggravated murder, Patterson faces life in prison without parole.

New details about the death of Deputy Kurt Wyman
June 15

Oriskany (WSYR-TV) – The Oneida County Sheriff's Department held a press conference on Wednesday to address its investigation into an incident in which Deputy Kurt Wyman was shot and killed in Knoxboro. The Sheriff called Deputy Wyman a "hero."

Deputy Wyman, 24, was allegedly killed when 40-year-old Chris Patterson fired a shotgun at him and another deputy. Wyman was wearing a protective vest, but he was hit in the neck.

During the press conference, Sheriff Robert Maciol said that Wyman was providing light for emergency personnel prior to the incident in which he was shot.

Chris Patterson was holed up inside his garage for six hours, with a shotgun in his hands. He first threatened to kill his live-in girlfriend, then threatened to kill himself. The sheriff says by default, Patterson threatened to harm law enforcement too.

“Anytime police are in a standoff, or with a person who is armed, they certainly are a threat,” said Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol

The county’s Emergency Response Team decided to use hard foam ammunition to temporarily incapacitate Patterson. At 2 a.m., Deputies had the opening for which they had been waiting.

“He was struck by the ammunition - the less lethal ammunition - and that's when he was knocked back,” Maciol said.

Then, according to the Sheriff, Wyman approached Patterson with his taser. Patterson was, however, able to recover control of his gun and shoot.

“I can only surmise that Deputy Wyman saw an opportunity to preserve Christian Patterson's life, to protect his fellow deputies and to diffuse that situation in a heroic and selfless act,” Maciol said. “He's just a hero and saw an opportunity.  I can't stress that enough.”

Patterson was shot by deputies during the incident. He is recovering from his injuries at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica. When he recovers, the Sheriff's Department has said it intends to charge him with aggravated murder.

Sheriff Maciol said that the department is focusing its efforts and its attention on the aggravated murder investigation and that the department will hold a comprehensive review of its procedures once the investigation is completed. The investigation is ongoing.