Weapons charge filed in Halloween shooting
By Meg Kinnard
COLUMBIA — An ex-convict charged with killing a South Carolina child who knocked on his door on Halloween night is now facing a federal weapons charge, prosecutors said Wednesday.
A federal grand jury indicted Quentin Lamar Patrick, 22, Wednesday on one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, a crime punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins said.
File/AP
Tears stream down the face of Quentin Lamar Patrick on Nov. 3 as he signs paperwork during his bond hearing at the Sumter-Lee County Detention Center. Patrick, an ex-convict, is charged with killing a 12-year-old South Carolina boy who knocked on his front door on Halloween night. He also now faces federal weapons charges.
The charge is connected to two guns found in Patrick's home the night of Oct. 31. That night, police say Patrick, who has multiple drug convictions, emptied an AK-47 into his front door, walls and windows when he heard a knock at his door.
T.J. Darrisaw, 12, was killed in the rain of at least 29 bullets. His brother, Ahmadre Darrisaw, 9, and their father, Freddie Grinnell, were injured but were released after being treated at a hospital. Another sibling with them wasn't hurt.
The family attended a Halloween celebration in downtown Sumter, 45 miles east of Columbia, then stopped at Patrick's house for trick-or-treat because the porch light was on, police said.
Patrick, who told police he had been robbed and shot in the past year, told investigators he thought he was being robbed when he sprayed the front of the house with bullets. He has been charged with murder, three counts of assault and battery with intent to kill and one count of assault with intent to kill.
Police found a handgun that was not used in the shootout, as well as ammunition for both guns in the home when they arrested Patrick.
Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they have been working with Sumter County prosecutors and will transfer Patrick to federal custody before a hearing on the weapons charge next month.
An attorney representing Patrick on the murder charge did not return a phone message seeking comment. Patrick may have a different attorney assigned to represent him on the weapons charge at his federal arraignment, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said.
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Comments
stanish (anonymous) says...
What a TRAGIC story. This child's life cut short for having some fun on Halloween nite. What a price to pay for his innocence. Thank God his father and brother were spared which could've made this even more TRAGIC! This may sound STRANGE to some and I'm sure I'll be thought of as some kind of NUT, but I truly feel SORRY for Quentin Patrick also. I can only pray that God will have MERCY own his soul. His life is LOST also, and he will probably NEVER experience FREEDOM again! It's NOT up to me or ANYONE to JUDGE on here. I can only say but by the GRACE of God there goes I. We should learn by God's word written by the Apostle Paul in Gal. 6:1, Brethern, if a man be overtaken in a FAULT, Ye which are SPIRTUAL , Restore such an one in the spirit of MEEKNESS, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. May God continue to Bless and strenghten the Darrisaw family.
December 18, 2008 at 2:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fockerout (anonymous) says...
Stanish -
I wonder if you would say the same thing if this scumbag blew your child away with an assault rifle. I doubt it!
December 18, 2008 at 5:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bwelch (anonymous) says...
This man is an idiot. who comes to rob you and knocks at the front door? And then this retard empties an ak47 at the front door without looking to see who it is. He deserves the death penalty for being so stupid.
December 18, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tmh32 (anonymous) says...
SOB should be hanged. I don't want my tax money paying to keep this idiot alive in prison. I feel so sorry for the family that lost their child.
December 18, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wellinformed (anonymous) says...
What is sad is that this all could have been avoided if he had not had his porch light on! This is terrible. I can't imagine how the family is feeling & you know this ruined Halloween for them forever. There is no excuse for the violence & the price that child had to pay.
December 18, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MRSCVS (anonymous) says...
I am still astonish at people's ignorance.
To blast an AK47 at the door when someone is knocking on Halloween night is just as stupid driving drunk...
What kind of logic did this ass*ole use? NONE..
You took the life of an innocent lil boy who was only trick or treating with his family.
You have the audacity to cry, I say huh, the lil boy who life you took won't ever have that chance.
You deserve to be treated just as HARSH as you did that Family....
My heart aches for them and I pray that GOD grant them comfort in the days and months ahead.
God bless this family
December 18, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coahtrtaylor (anonymous) says...
stanish: Yes we should learn from the written Word
Genesis 9:6
"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."
Levitucus 24:17
"he that killeth any man shall surely be put to DEATH."
I certainly hope the death penalty is on the table for this waste of human life.
December 18, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SC_Native_ElCid07 (anonymous) says...
You can't fix stupid.
December 18, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
highclass (anonymous) says...
I hope he fries. Not in 20 years but in the next couple of months. Take him out and let bullets rain on him. An eye for an eye.
December 18, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ln1959 (anonymous) says...
This is what happens when you sit around and smoke crack. Any movement makes you think that someones after you. To have a AK47 and blasting your door because someone knocked on it, should put him on death row for say 1 month then get rid of him.
My God bless this family through this time and the trials to come.
December 18, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SC_Native_ElCid07 (anonymous) says...
Hey Johnny, that came from way out in left field. I was refering to Brother Quentin in the article but you sound like you would qualify for a dumbass yourself now that you mention it.
If you used to "work out" with ol sillyass I'd be willing to bet he called you Mr. Bendover!!! LMFAO! Come on and tell us the truth!
C'mon back with another stupid comment if you want, I'll be more than happy to make you look like an idiot.
You have yourself a nice day now!
December 18, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
I thought the same thing bwelch. What robber knocks at the front door? This a hole was cracked out and paranoid! He didnt care who he was shooting at. It couldve been his own mother,the police,etc. Unfortunately it was this innocent family and not some of his low life friends who showed up at the door. Fry him fast!
December 18, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
johnnyholmes;aside from hearing of a child uselessly losing his/her life, nothing upsets some of these readers more than the truth.
Jamal, Tyrone, Antwan, Demetrius, along with a number of other (heroic? Inspiring?) stupid! names stigmatize those burdened with them, by parents(or a parent)that think a name is going to somehow compensate for their own inadequacies.
December 18, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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