(Anderson, SC).Tonight in Anderson County a jury found Royres Patterson guilty of Murder, Attempted Murder and Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. The Honorable Scott Sprouse sentenced Patterson to 30 years for Murder, 20 years concurrent for Attempted Murder and 5 years consecutive for Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. The case was tried over three days by Assistant Solicitors Lauren Davis Price and Chelsey Moore. The defendant was represented by local attorney Bruce Byrholdt.
On June 7, 2014 Brandon “Jugg Money” Willingham was shot to death in a drive-by shooting in Anderson County by Royres Patterson. He also shot Rayshawn Cowan four times during the same incident. At trial, it was revealed that this was in retaliation for the shooting of Anthony Patterson, the defendant’s brother, the night prior by someone strongly resembling the victims. Two eyewitnesses who were in the car with Patterson testified at trial along with another eyewitness from the scene, multiple law enforcement officials and expert witnesses.
“Street “justice” is not justice and must be dealt with in a court of law,” stated Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “Brandon Willingham lost his life because Royres Patterson thought revenge was justice. Real justice was the guilty verdict rendered by the jury today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the victims and to the community who lost a promising young artist in his prime.”