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Jury finds teen guilty of attempting to kill Portsmouth police officer

Posted at 11:06 AM, Apr 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-13 19:11:05-04

William Patterson

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - A  jury found 16-year-old William Patterson Jr guilty of Attempted Capital Murder in court Friday.

The teen has been on trial all week after police said he tried to kill Portsmouth Police Officer Angelina Baaklini back on November 6, 2017.

The officer was shot multiple times while patrolling on Hickory Street when she came in contact with Patterson, whom she tried to take into custody because he was a known runaway.

In court on Wednesday and Thursday, medical experts testified that Baaklini would have died had she not had a tourniquet placed on her leg immediately after she was hit in the femoral artery.

Patterson was found guilty of all the 12 charges against him, which included: Attempted Capital Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer, Use of a Firearm while Attempting to Commit Capital Murder, Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Use of a Firearm while Committing Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Malicious Injury of a Law-Enforcement Officer, Use of a Firearm while Committing Malicious Injury of a Law-Enforcement Officer, four counts of Discharging a Firearm in a Public Place Causing Bodily Injury, Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile, and Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

Patterson's sentencing is scheduled for July 10.

Portsmouth Police Chief Tonya Chapman released the following statement on the verdict:

Today, was an important day for the Portsmouth Police Department family and for Police Officer Angelina Baaklini.  The conclusion of the trial today represents months of collaborative work between the Police Department and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, including the collection of evidence, interviewing witnesses, and the presentation of testimony. The men and women of the jury heard and viewed the evidence, thoughtfully deliberated on its merits, and have found 16-year-old Will R. Patterson, Jr., guilty of all charges. 

As a police chief, I am proud of the response of all of my officers on that tragic November afternoon, but most importantly I am proud of the immeasurable strength and powerful resilience of Angelina who, in the course of her duties serving and protecting the citizens of Portsmouth, was critically wounded and pushed herself to survive. 

The immediate response of a nearby citizen and the rapid arrival of officers were instrumental factors in keeping her alive, as well as the assistance of Portsmouth Fire & EMS personnel and the staff at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.  Words simply cannot express my gratitude. 

Each day that a police officer puts on the uniform and goes to work, they do so with the understanding that there is a chance that they may not come back home to their loved ones.  However, the duty to protect and serve their community calls to these brave men and women every day and certainly outweighs the risks they may face.

Officer Baaklini’s road to recovery is on-going. I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement shared with her by individuals and organizations from throughout the city and the Hampton Roads region. We ask that you keep Angelina and her family in your thoughts and prayers as she continues to recover.

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