Deputy says Patterson aimed at Wyman, others
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ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The question of whether Christian Patterson meant to shoot Sheriff's Deputy Kurt Wyman following a standoff last June was brought up by both sides in opening arguments of Patterson's trial.
Thursday, prosecutors in Oneida County Court aimed to prove that fatal shot was intentional.
A deputy present during the incident testified he became concerned when Patterson told negotiators he had four bullets in his gun and five in his pocket and he wanted to give his neighbors a show.
The deputy also says after Patterson was knocked to the ground by less than lethal rounds, Deputy Wyman ran toward the garage and Patterson aimed his gun directly at him. He says Patterson didn't stop there.
"Moving the gun over toward myself and Investigator Nowakowski at that time," said Oneida County Sheriff’s Deputy Carey Phair.
"Toward 462?" an attorney asked.
"Yes," Phair said.
"And what do you see happen next?" the attorney asked.
"I hear another shot, see a bright flash, feel a warm wind,” Phair said.
A forensic firearms analyst also testified and demonstrated that Patterson would have had to pump his shotgun before each of the three shots he fired.