Man Involved in Saturday's Fatal Exchange of Gunfire on Jefferson Street Arrested for Evidence Tampering

One of the gunmen involved in Saturday evening's fatal exchange of gunfire in the parking lot of King's Vape on Jefferson Street has been arrested by Homicide Unit detectives on a charge of evidence tampering.

Keithan Patterson, 20, was taken into custody today after detectives determined that he ditched his gun between the time he drove away wounded from the shooting scene and pulled into the driveway of Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment (video surveillance confirms that Patterson fired shots in the parking lot of the Vape store). Patterson entered the hospital unarmed. A search of Patterson's Toyota Camry pursuant to a warrant showed no sign of the firearm.

At the time of the gunfire Saturday, Patterson was free on $120,000 bond stemming from his October 2024 arrest on three counts of aggravated robbery and one count of evading arrest. A judicial commissioner set Patterson's bond on the evidence tampering charge at $50,000.

Donald King Jr., 19, died as the result of the Jefferson Street shooting. King was one of three occupants in a Mitsubishi SUV that backed into a parking spot next to Patterson's Camry. During an interaction between those in the Mitsubishi and Patterson, gunfire began. King was critically wounded and was found by responding officers. He died shortly after arriving at Vanderbilt. King's two friends, ages 16 and 20, fled in the Mitsubishi. Patterson fled in the Camry.

The two Mitsubishi occupants traveled to St. Thomas Midtown Hospital where the 20-year-old was treated for a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Patterson was treated at Vanderbilt for a non-critical wound.

The investigation remains active as detectives work to determine who started the shooting and why.