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Sheriff's Deputy shot and killed in Augusta standoff

By ANDREW DONOVAN

Story Created: Jun 7, 2011 at 7:32 AM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 7, 2011 at 1:03 PM EDT

AUGUSTA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Oneida County Sheriff's Department has confirmed to NEWSChannel 2 that one deputy was shot in a standoff on Knoxboro Road in the Town of Augusta.

Members of Wyman's church were notified via text message Tuesday morning that he had been killed and his wife, who was pregnant and expecting their second baby Tuesday morning, had gone into labor.

Wyman's family was at St. Elizabeth Medical Center Tuesday morning along with numerous members of law enforcement.

Police were responding to a domestic incident at a home on Knoxboro Road where a man was barricaded in his garage. That man, 41-year-old Chris Patterson, reportedly shot the deputy when he and his fellow deputies tried to take him into custody.

There is no word on the injuries of the alleged gunman.

The domestic incident at the home originally involved Patterson's wife and child, but they were released early on without harm.

Tuesday morning, Utica College released a statement regarding the incident and their connection to the accused shooter:

"This morning the Utica College community and the rest of the Mohawk Valley awoke to news of the tragic shooting in Knoxboro that has since claimed the life of Oneida County Sheriff’s Deputy Kurt Wyman. The suspected shooter, Chris Patterson, is an employee of the company that provides facilities management services to the college. According to news reports, Mr. Patterson was shot on the scene and is currently hospitalized. Our thoughts and condolences are with Deputy Wyman’s family, friends, and colleagues in the local law enforcement community, as well as all others affected by this terrible tragedy."

At a press conference held Tuesday morning, Sheriff Maciol explained that Wyman had been an active member of the Marine Corps Reserves as a Sergeant and served overseas.

"He served with pride and he will be greatly missed," Sheriff Maciol said.

Maciol said the incident is still an active aggravated murder investigation, which limited the amount of information that could be released Tuesday morning.

"Our hearts go out to the Wyman family, and more importantly this law enforcement community that continues to protect us night and day who never understand what they face whenever they go out on a call," Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said at the press conference.

Both Sheriff Maciol and County Executive Picente asked media to refrain from contacting the grieving family.

Patterson will be charged with aggravated murder, an A-1 felony, Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara said.

"The only punishment for it is life imprisonment without parole," D.A. McNamara said, who added that those charges will be filed when it is appropriate, pending Patterson's release from St. Elizabeth Medical Center, where he was still recovering from his injuries Tuesday morning.

The investigation is still ongoing, Sheriff Maciol said.

"His service to this country and this county were second to none," Sheriff Maciol said of Deputy Wyman.

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