Man kills trick or treater

Sunday, November 02, 2008

SUMTER, S.C. — An ex-convict who says he thought he was being robbed gunned down a 12-year-old trick-or-treater, spraying nearly 30 rounds with an assault rifle from inside his home after hearing a knock on the door, police said Saturday.

Quentin Patrick, 22, is accused of killing 12-year-old T.J. Darrisaw on Friday. T.J.'s 9-year-old brother, Ahmadre Darrisaw, and their father, Freddie Grinnell, were injured. Another sibling was with them but wasn't hurt.

The family attended a Halloween celebration in downtown Sumter, 45 miles east of Columbia, then stopped at Patrick's house because the porch light was on, police said. Police said at least two of the boys were wearing ghoulish masks when they knocked on the door. The boys' mother and a toddler stayed in the car nearby.

Patrick emptied his AK-47, shooting at least 29 times through his front door, walls and windows after hearing the knock, Police Chief Patty Patterson said. He told police he had been robbed and shot in the past year.

No one answered the door at the Darrisaw family's home Saturday.

"This is by far one of the worst tragedies that I have had to personally experience," Patterson said. "It happened basically because kids were out doing what they would normally do on Halloween."

Patrick faces a charge of murder, three counts of assault and battery with intent to kill and one count of assault with intent to kill. He is being held without bail.

Patterson said Patrick had multiple drug convictions but that police do not think he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the shooting.

A man who identified himself as Patrick's brother but declined to give his name told The Associated Press that he thought Patrick was suffering from post-traumatic stress after a break-in last December. The man's account matched information police provided.

"We want to let his family know that this is a total tragic accident," he said. "He was trying to protect his family."