‘When he loved, he loved hard.’ Arrest made in killing of Puyallup father
A Puyallup father killed in a shooting Sunday has been identified as 36-year-old Tyriek Assante Patterson.
Deputies responded to the shooting at around 4:20 a.m. at the Wynstone Townhomes in the Summit View area. Patterson was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside a town home, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged shooter left the scene before deputies arrived. Patterson later died from his injuries. It appeared that the individuals involved in the shooting knew each other.
Patterson died from multiple gunshot wounds from a homicide, the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office wrote in its public information portal.
A 24-year-old man surrendered himself to the Seattle Police Department just before 7 p.m. Tuesday. A Pierce County deputy took the man into custody, and he has been booked into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder.
He was not charged or arraigned Wednesday but could be Thursday, according to a spokesperson for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Errold Patterson, the father of Tyriek Patterson, told The News Tribune that he found out about the arrest Wednesday morning but believes that another person is involved in his son’s death.
“I’m just hoping [detectives are] looking into everything to find out who else is involved,” he said.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson deputy Carly Cappetto told The News Tribune on Wednesday that there is no other person of interest.
Tyriek Patterson’s stepsister, Shania Star, said she learned of his death after seeing a post from the Sheriff’s Office, which stated a 37-year-old was shot. Her family contacted the Medical Examiner’s Office which confirmed his body was there. That was after family members went to different hospitals to try to find Patterson.
“So we still got no contact from any police officer saying that he was deceased,” she said.
Errold Patterson said he has been contacting the Sheriff’s Office to stay apprised of the investigation and if there is another person of interest. He is waiting for the office to call back, he said.
Star said the tragedy is especially heartbreaking for Tyriek Patterson’s two young children. She said he was their sole provider, and his death has taken a toll on them.
Patterson was a single father, according to Errold Patterson. Tyriek Patterson put the children in good schools, signed them up for activities and made sure they had what they needed financially, he said.
“Not a lot of men out there would do stuff like that, especially not Black men. And he took the responsibility and took care of those kids,” Errold Patterson said.
Before his death Tyriek Patterson recently had been promoted to manager at a store in the South Hill Mall. He previously went to culinary school, worked at MOD Pizza and worked his way up to general manager. He also won several awards for the store he opened up, according to Errold Patterson.
Star said her brother was an amazing person.
“Anytime I needed him, and I needed to talk, I could just message him, and talk to him. He was an amazing friend. He was overall just the light of the room,” she said. “When he loved, he loved hard.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Tyriek Patterson’s family for funeral and memorial expenses. The funds also will help support his children. About $2,693 has been raised so far.
