Derrick Wayne Patterson, a 55-year-old African American man from Akron, Ohio, tragically passed away on July 17, 2022. Patterson was involved in an altercation at a convenience store on Copley Road in Akron, where he got into a fight with two men, Anthony Fowler and Alexander Quarterman. After the fight, Patterson's nephew dropped him off about a block away.
Moments later, Fowler and Quarterman drove by, ran Patterson over, and shot him, leading to his death.
The investigation into Patterson's death led to the arrest of Fowler and Quarterman. Fowler was quickly apprehended after the shooting, while Quarterman was arrested in September 2022 in upstate New York by U.S. Marshals. Both men were charged with murder and felonious assault. On May 17, 2023, a Summit County jury found Fowler and Quarterman guilty of the charges. They were both sentenced to life in prison, with Fowler eligible for parole in 18 years and Quarterman in 25 years.
Patterson's death was determined to be caused by gunshot wounds to the neck and torso, as confirmed by the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office. The case drew significant attention in Akron, highlighting issues of violence and the swift actions taken by law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Patterson is remembered fondly by his family and friends, who described him as an intelligent, helpful man who loved games of skill and strategy, such as dominoes and chess, and sports like basketball and football. He will be deeply missed by his loved ones, including his son, Damitri John Patterson, daughter, Darian Nelson, and his grandchildren.
