Defendant: Slaying was in self-defense

The man accused of shooting and killing an acquaintance over a pit bull puppy testified Monday in District Court that he killed the victim in self-defense.

Michael Patterson, 23, told a jury that he killed Bobby Wilkerson because he thought the 28-year-old was reaching for a gun during a 2007 dispute in a church parking lot.

"I was scared he was going to shoot me," Patterson said.

His trial started last week before District Judge Valorie Vega. He was arrested on charges of murder with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm into a structure and conspiracy to commit murder with a deadly weapon in the Aug. 29, 2007 slaying of Wilkerson, which happened at the Palabra Viva Church parking lot on Mojave Road near Desert Inn Road.

Authorities said the two men were fighting because Wilkerson didn't pay for a pit bull puppy he purchased from the defendant.

Patterson, originally from Chicago, testified that he'd sold dogs in the past. He was also once arrested for dog fighting. But Patterson denied that he was ever involved in organized dog fighting. He said the dog fighting charge stemmed from an incident where one of his dogs bit another dog.

He told the jury that he sold a dog to Wilkerson about a year before the shooting. Wilkerson returned that dog because his apartment didn't allow animals.

Patterson said he then sold Wilkerson a pit bull puppy named "Gichi" for $500. He said Wilkerson paid him $100 and agreed to pay $50 each week until he paid off the debt. Wilkerson, however, didn't pay the full amount, he said. On Aug. 29, the two men agreed to meet so Wilkerson could return the dog.

The two men argued when they met in the church parking lot. Patterson said he saw Wilkerson reaching for a gun and then shot him in the face.

His trial is expected to continue today.

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.