TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa police say the charges against 26-year-old Israel Trejo have been amended to first degree murder after the 22-year-old victim of Monday night’s axe attack died in the hospital on Thursday.
Fox23 News spoke with Lt. Brandon Watkins about the investigation into Monday’s violent attack.
According to police, the victim, James “Jimi” Patterson was struck in the head with an axe by Trejo on Monday evening.
We also spent time talking with the neighbors who live in the apartment building where the attack took place.
Joshua Lewis, a man who described himself as a good friend of 22-year old James Patterson who friends called “Jimi” said he didn’t deserve what happened to him.
“He was a good friend of mine, he was innocent, I mean he was into like Pokémon cards and stuff,” he said. “He would never hurt a fly, he was a sweetheart,” said Lewis.
Lewis said his friend Jimi, had been staying at his apartment near 12th and South Houston in Tulsa for a short period of time while he was getting back on his feet.
Lewis said Jimi was getting ready to leave and had stopped by a neighboring apartment in the same building on Monday.
Lt. Brandon Watkins, with the Tulsa Police Department’s Homicide Unit, described how the incident unfolded:
“The victim basically was just sitting in the house, charging his cell phone, eating an egg roll and was not even interacting with anybody, was just quietly sitting there.”
According to police, Trejo was attempting to buy an axe. After a few minutes of holding the axe, police said he swung the axe, landing it inside the victim’s head.
Patterson was taken to the hospital with the axe still in his head.
“Basically, just murdered the victim in cold blood for no reason whatsoever,” Watkins said.
Watkins said the two men did not know each other and the attack was unprovoked.
He also described both the victim and the suspect as homeless.
In a screen shot taken from surveillance video inside the apartment that has been posted online, the victim can be seen seated on the couch holding his phone. The suspect is also clearly visible standing in the same room with an axe over his shoulder.
“There’s no lessons here,” Lt. Watkins said, “there’s nothing to this, it’s just pure sadistic brutality on the part of the suspect.”
In the meantime, Lewis, who is grieving the unexpected loss of his friend, has a message for Patterson’s family:
“I just want them to know how sorry that we really are that this happened, and I hope, I hope you can get through this.”
According to the police arrest report, Trejo admitted to assaulting the victim with an axe. He will be arraigned on first degree murder charges on October 24th.
According to the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office, Trejo has a hold from ICE.
Lt. Watkins said his immigration status will have no bearing on their investigation, however.
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