Wichitan who claimed self-defense in deadly shooting charged with gun, drug crimes

A Wichita man who claimed he shot and killed another man in self-defense has been charged with federal gun and drug crimes in connection to the shooting.

Dalton Jacob Patterson, 26, was indicted Tuesday on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and two counts of unlawful possession of firearms by a user of controlled substances. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister announced the charges in a news release.

Patterson was arrested by Wichita police Oct. 18 after a fight with 40-year-old Charles Cunningham that turned deadly. Police said Cunningham and his 42-year-old brother went to a home in the 4400 block of East Bayley at around 4 a.m. as part of an “ongoing dispute.” Patterson lives at a home in that block, jail booking reports show.

“At the residence, Cunningham physically attacked Patterson and Patterson fired a shot that struck Cunningham, killing him,” police said.

Cunningham was taken to a hospital by a personal vehicle, where he was pronounced dead. Police found shell casings and two handguns at the scene. Federal prosecutors said Patterson claimed the shooting was in self-defense.

The indictment alleges that Patterson possessed more than 50 grams of meth the day of the shooting and illegally possessed a 9 mm Ruger on Nov. 1 and a .380 Cobra on Nov. 8. He was arrested on both those days, Sedgwick County Jail records show.

If convicted, Patterson would face at least 10 years in federal prison on the drug charge, at least 5 years in prison on the charge of illegally possessing a gun for drug trafficking, and up to 10 years in prison on each count of unlawfully possessing a gun as a drug user.

Patterson has not been charged with any crimes in Sedgwick County District Court, records show.

This story was originally published December 3, 2019 at 4:34 PM.