Family decries sentence handed to Tacoma man convicted in 2022 death of their loved one
A 29-year-old man has been sentenced in the 2022 killing of a Tacoma man that resulted from an apparent drug deal gone wrong.
Quante Reynolds, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Nov. 8 in the shooting of 42-year-old Marcus Patton on March 29, 2022. Patton died from his injuries on April 15, according to court documents.
Patton was shot near South 48th Street and Sheridan Avenue after he met with Reynolds, possibly to exchange illegal drugs, documents show.
Reynolds had known Patton since the defendant was a child, according to charging documents. A witness told detectives that the men were not on good terms as Patton had tried to mediate a dispute between “Quante” and another person.
A juvenile witness told detectives that he was with Patton in a vehicle when the shooting took place. He said that at the 4800 block of South Sheridan, Patton went to talk to “the people” in a different vehicle to “look at some weed,” according to court records. The boy heard gunshots and ducked down, then saw Patton running back to their vehicle.
In his guilty plea, Reynolds stated he the only aided in Patton’s murder. As of Friday, no one else has been charged in the homicide.
On Friday, Judge Philip Sorensen sentenced Reynolds to 15 years in prison, which is 26 months longer than prosecutors and the defendant’s attorney agreed to recommend. Sorensen said he did not believe the recommended number of 154 months was enough.
Reynold’s family and Patton’s family were present in court when the sentence was delivered. Prior to sentencing, Reynolds declined to give a statement.
‘I’ll never forget’
John Hammond, Patton’s uncle, looked directly at Reynolds when he told him to find God.
“My nephew was a good-hearted person,” he said. “He wasn’t perfect, but no one deserves to lose their life over some petty stuff. His life is gone.”
Kanda Patton, the victim’s cousin, said through tears that she misses Patton.
“Never in my life did I think he’d get taken away over something petty,” she said.
Kanda Patton said she did not understand why Reynolds was given a plea and believes he deserves life in prison.
“He has broken our family,” she said. “[Patton] was the oldest grandchild. He was my brother, my cousin.”
Marcus Patton’s mother, Linda Patton, said no sentence would be enough because she believes Reynolds is a “murderous person.”
“You are saying that you’re not guilty and you want your life spared, but you won’t tell us who took our son’s life, which is very, very hurtful,” Linda Patton said.
She said Reynolds’ claims that he was not the shooter is something she will have to deal with for the rest of her life.
“I forgive you because I must forgive, but I’ll never forget because you won’t tell us who did it if you did not.”
