Defendant in 2008 Redbud Lane shooting case claimed gun accidentally went off, officer testifies

A defendant suspected in a 2008 shooting and robbery at a Lawrence apartment told an officer the gun accidentally went off and that he was acting in self-defense, according to testimony Thursday at a preliminary hearing.

Dustin D. Walker, 26, of Lawrence, said that Stephen Patterson, 23, had charged at him during an altercation April 22, 2008, in Patterson’s apartment in the 2500 block of Redbud Lane, Lawrence police officer Michael Ramsey said about a 2008 interview he had with Walker.

Douglas County prosecutors earlier this year filed charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery against Walker and Asia Shanae Morrison, 21, of Lawrence, accusing them of participating in a robbery that left Patterson shot in the leg. A witness testified Thursday that Morrison and Walker had come to Patterson’s apartment that day to pick up Morrison’s son.

Ramsey testified that Walker told him he became nervous when two men exited a back bedroom as Walker was in a heated conversation with Patterson. Walker told police Patterson charged him and pulled out a firearm, but Walker said when he wrested it away from Patterson the gun went off.

Walker said he left the apartment and learned later that Patterson had been shot. He also told police Morrison had already left the apartment.

“He said they did not take anything from Mr. Patterson,” Ramsey testified.

Walker was already in custody when he was charged because he’s accused as the suspect in an unrelated shooting that occurred Dec. 5, 2010, at South Pointe Apartments, 2310 W 26th St.

Patterson — who is currently in custody accused of violating his parole for 2009 drug possession, aggravated assault and battery convictions — briefly took the stand during Thursday’s preliminary hearing, but he declined to testify, so District Judge Paula Martin appointed him an attorney in the case. The hearing is scheduled to continue at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Morrison remains free on $30,000 bond, according to jail records.