In the quiet town of Rocky Mount, Virginia, a life was tragically cut short on the afternoon of April 14, 2022. Larether Tanika Latrice Patterson, a 37-year-old female, was fatally shot in an act of domestic violence that also left another woman injured. The incident unfolded on Circle Drive, where police responded to calls of a shooting just before 3:30 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered two female victims.
Emergency responders pronounced Patterson dead at the scene.
The immediate investigation swiftly pointed to a suspect: Timothy Walton, Patterson's 61-year-old ex-husband. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing Walton flee in a brown or gold-colored car shortly after the shooting. This information led to his prompt arrest. Court documents later confirmed the nature of their relationship and pointed to a domestic dispute as the catalyst for the violent encounter.
Following his apprehension, Timothy Walton was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The second female victim was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Larether Patterson, born in Chicago, Illinois on October 23, 1984, was a mother and grandmother who was remembered for her dedication to her family and her work as a caregiver.
