MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee National Guard recruiter charged in an armory shooting brought a loaded pistol into the building intending to kill himself, not shoot his fellow Guard members, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Defense attorney Michael Stengel delivered an opening statement in the federal trial of Amos Patton, who has pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to kill four of his superiors at the National Guard armory in Millington on Oct. 24, 2013. Patton is accused of assaulting a major, a lieutenant colonel and two sergeant majors with a firearm, with intent "to do bodily harm" and commit murder. If convicted, he faces no less than 20 years in prison on the murder-related charges.
Prosecutors say Patton, 43, pulled a gun from a fanny pack and began shooting after a disciplinary meeting in which he was told about an official recommendation to remove him from his job as a recruiter and reduce his rank from sergeant first class to staff sergeant. The meeting came after an investigation of a sexual assault complaint from a female soldier against Patton, investigators have said.
In his opening statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Godwin told jurors Patton was called to the meeting at the armory and drove there in his government-issued car.
"When that meeting was over, Mr. Patton was unhappy," Godwin said. "Indeed, he was angry."
After the meeting, Patton and two superiors went to the car parked outside the armory, Godwin said. They were going to drive back to Patton's office in the Memphis suburb of Bartlett to take him to his personal vehicle.
Patton retrieved a bag and a fanny pack from the car, then asked to go to the bathroom, Godwin said. Patton entered the armory but was told by Sgt. Maj. Christopher Crawford that he could not go into the bathroom with both items.
Patton then reached toward the fanny pack, which was slung over his shoulder, and pulled out a 9mm pistol, Godwin said. Crawford then tried to restrain Patton from behind with a bear hug, Godwin said.
Patton held on to the gun and fired several shots, wounding three soldiers, Godwin said. Patton ran out of the armory, was subdued by Crawford and other Guard members and was arrested by Millington police.
Godwin said Patton took the loaded gun and 50 extra rounds of ammunition to the armory with the goal of shooting someone if he lost his job.
Stengel, Patton's lawyer, disputed the prosecutors' claim, saying Patton wanted to go to the bathroom with the gun to commit suicide. Patton only fired the shots because he was being grabbed from behind, Stengel said.
"The shooting starts, wild shots, during this struggle, while he was in a bear hug," Stengel told the jury.
Maj. William Crawford testified later Tuesday that he was shot in the left leg as he ran to help Christopher Crawford in his struggle with Patton. The Crawfords are not related.
William Crawford said he took the gun away and hit Patton in the head before Patton ran out of the building.
On cross examination by Stengel, William Crawford acknowledged all the shots were fired while Patton was in the bear hug administered by Christopher Crawford.
"Yes, he had his arms," William Crawford testified.
