Family member says gang was after suspected downtown shooter

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The mother of a teen suspected of shooting several people downtown Saturday night says he claims he isn't responsible for the violent episode.

Shamus Patton, 17, is suspected to be one of the shooters that frightened downtown Indianapolis residents during Indiana Black Expo Weekend. Metro Police picked up Patton late Monday at an apartment complex on the west side.

Shortly after, 24-Hour News 8 talked with his mother, Barbara Turentine. She claims that after seeing her son’s face on television, she advised him to turn himself in.

“I kept trying to call him. I had been calling him before then, but I couldn’t get him and finally got in touch with him and I said, 'Your picture is on the TV.' He said, 'Yes, I found that out this morning,' and I said, 'You really need to turn yourself in' and he said 'OK' and he said, 'Mama, come and get me.'” Turentine recalled.

Turentine then said she went to go pick Patton up at Westpark Townhomes, but by the time she got there, police already had him cuffed. She said that Patton kept insisting that he was not the shooter they were looking for.

“He said, 'Mama, I didn’t do that shooting.' He kept saying that 'It wasn’t me',” she said.

Patton's cousin also spoke to 24-Hour News 8 and said that the shooting could have been gang-related. He said that a gang was after Patton and knew he would be downtown that night.

The police operated based on several tips that led them to suspect Patton. Patton’s family wants to see the surveillance tapes that connect Patton to the crime.

This isn’t Patton’s first offense.

Police say Patton has a juvenile crime record. He now faces preliminary charges of aggravated battery, criminal recklessness with a firearm and possibly gang-related charges.