In the fading light of a late winter afternoon in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, a life was tragically cut short, setting in motion a search for answers. Julian James "JuJu" Patterson, a 20-year-old Black male from Fort Atkinson, was with a friend in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Anton Drive on March 12, 2018. They were there for what police later described as a pre-arranged drug transaction.
What was supposed to be a simple exchange quickly escalated into a fatal encounter.
A disturbance broke out, and in the ensuing chaos, a single gunshot echoed through the parking lot. Patterson was struck. He was rushed to a local hospital, but the wound proved to be fatal. He was pronounced deceased, leaving his family and friends to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a young man known for his kindness and willingness to help others.
The Fitchburg Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation. Their efforts quickly led them to identify three suspects. The day after the shooting, investigators located and arrested 19-year-old Travon A. Jackson in Columbus, Wisconsin. Later that evening, a traffic stop resulted in the apprehension of two other suspects: 18-year-old Gary C. Mays and 17-year-old Joshua B. Mcinnis.
While the three were initially booked into the Dane County Jail on a separate charge from a previous incident, authorities announced that charges related to Patterson's death were expected to be filed. The investigation suggested that a robbery was the motive behind the deadly confrontation. With the suspects in custody, the police department stated they were no longer seeking anyone else in connection with the homicide, though the investigation remained open and ongoing.
