Darius Oliver | Homicide Watch Chicago

Mother: Darius Oliver "would do anything he could to help"

Michael Lansu — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:15:00 -0600

Darius Oliver / Photo from DNAInfo.com/chicago

BY WILL HAGER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Darius Oliver was fatally shot outside an Uptown church more than six months ago, but the killing still “feels so fresh” to his mother.

“I’m still at a loss for words,” said Oliver’s mother, Sabrina McMathis.

Oliver was shot Aug. 19, 2013, when two people inside a white vehicle opened fire near North Sheridan Road and West Wilson Avenue -- striking Oliver and four others, prosecutors said.

The 21-year-old died four days later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, authorities said. The four other wounded survived the attack.

McMathis said Oliver always put himself before others and attempted to push people away from the spray of gunfire before he was shot.

“He was very sensitive to the needs of other people,” McMathis said. “He was someone who would do anything he could to help.”

McMathis donated Oliver’s organs, something she said her son would have wanted her to do.

Oliver briefly studied at Le Cordon Bleu and had a passion for cooking -- especially pork chops, McMathis said.

He would often give leftover food to the homeless near the train, McMathis said.

In November, 21-year-old Kelsky Patterson was formally charged with murder in Oliver’s death.

“The thing that hurts the most is I don’t know why he took my son’s life,” McMathis said. “I don’t know if he meant to take my son’s life.”

Patterson, who has a tattoo of a machine gun on his forehead, was already being held at Cook County Jail awaiting trail for Sept. 19 Uptown shooting that left a 14-year-old boy and 22-year-old man wounded.

Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Patterson held on an additional $1 million bond on the murder charge.

“I hope the family of the guy who killed him can find peace in themselves,” McMathis said.

Comment of the Day: "I knew justice would be served for my brother they locked this man up the day of my brother funeral"

Will Hager — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:27:11 -0600

Darius Oliver was shot dead in August outside of an Uptown church. Kelsky Patterson was charged on one count of first-degree murder for the Oliver's death and was ordered held on a $1 million bond in November. Poster "Kristina Alwayzbeenme Oliver" shared this about Oliver:

I so glad that he is locked up good he took my brother from me and his family. Darius was a true angel that did nothing to no one he always put others before his self even that night he thought about others. Darius gave his life up saving everyone else that was around him he hurts so bad that it happened that way but he did just what GOD put him for saving and caring for others. I knew justice would be served for my brother they locked this man up the day of my brother funeral thank you lord, R.I.P Darius Marqui Oliver you are truly missed my lil brother.

UPDATE: Kelsky Patterson held on $1M bond for alleged murder outside Uptown church

Michael Lansu — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:58:30 -0600

Kelsky Patterson / Photo from Cook County Sheriff's office

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A reputed gang member already in Cook County Jail for a North Side shooting in September was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bond Thursday for allegedly gunning down a man and wounding four others outside an Uptown church a month before.

Kelsky Patterson and another person fired out of a white four-door vehicle, striking Darius Oliver, who had been standing outside the Uptown Baptist Church at Wilson Avenue and Sheridan Road on the night of Aug. 19, Cook County prosecutors said.

Oliver, 21, died four days later.

Four others who were shot survived.

At the time of the drive-by shooting, Uptown Baptist Church’s senior pastor Michael Allen tweeted that about 20 gunshots were fired outside of the house of worship during its Monday night meal for the homeless.

Cell phone records indicate that Patterson was in the area, and witnesses had given a physical description matching that of the 20-year-old purported Black P Stone member, who has a tattoo of an AK-47 between his eyebrows, authorities said.

Video from the area also captured Patterson and his two uncharged co-offenders fleeing the scene, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

During the course of the investigation, an FBI informant named Patterson as an offender in the late summer shooting, Santini said.

Patterson, who has 47 arrests under his belt, was later identified in a photo array by witnesses and surviving victims, Santini said.

Just a month after the shooting, on Sept. 19, Patterson allegedly shot and injured a 14-year-old boy and 22-year-old man while sitting on his bike at West Wilson and North Broadway.

For that shooting, Patterson, who goes by the street name “Bird,” was ordered held on $800,000 bond on Sept. 26 and has remained in Cook County Jail since.

“Clearly he’s a danger to society,” Santini told Judge Laura Sullivan before she set bond for the latest charges of murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery.

Patterson is a deliveryman for Chicago Steak, Fish and Chicken, assistant public defender Edward Koziboski said.

Patterson, of the 4600 block of South Drexel, has several other tattoos on his face, including one that reads: “My son was born Kentrell on July 27, 2013,” according to a police report.

He also has a tattoo near his right eye that says, “fear” and one near his left eye that reads “none,” the report said.

Kelsky Patterson charged in murder outside Uptown church

Michael Lansu — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 09:57:29 -0600

Kelsky Patterson / Photo from Cook County Sheriff's office

A South Side man already jailed for a North Side shooting has now been charged with murder for an August attack that killed one man and wounded four others outside an Uptown church.

Kelsky Patterson, 20, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm in connection with the Aug. 19 shooting outside the Uptown Baptist Church in the 4500 block of North Sheridan Road, authorities said.

Patterson is accused of killing Darius Oliver, who died four days after the shooting at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, authorities said.

Oliver, 21, of the 500 block of West 14th Place, was one of five people wounded in the shooting, authorities said. The other four survived.

Michael Allen, senior pastor of the nearby Uptown Baptist Church, Tweeted at the time that about 20 gunshots were fired outside of the church during its Monday night meal for the homeless.

Patterson was charged in September in connection with another shooting a few blocks away that wounded two people on Aug. 31, police said.

He faces two counts of aggravated battery and discharge of a firearm for shooting a 14-year-old boy and 22-year-old man while sitting on his bike at the corner of West Wilson Avenue and North Broadway, police said. He was ordered held on $800,000 bond Sept. 26 and has remained in Cook County Jail.

Patterson, of the 4600 block of South Drexel Avenue, is expected to appear in bond court on the new charges Thursday.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Man wounded in Monday Uptown shooting dies

John Carpenter — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 08:57:57 -0500

A man died early Thursday after he and four others were wounded in a Monday evening shooting near an Uptown neighborhood church.

Darius Oliver, 21, of the 500 block of West 14th Place, was pronounced dead at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 12:55 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

The five males were shot at 5:57 p.m. Monday in the 4500 block of North Sheridan Road, authorities said.

Paramedics initially took one person to an area hospital in “extreme critical” condition, according to Fire Media Affairs. Three others were hospitalized in serious-to-critical condition and a fifth person was in good condition.

Michael Allen, senior pastor of the nearby Uptown Baptist Church, Tweeted that about 20 gunshots were fired outside of the church during their Monday night meal for the homeless.

“Blood pools at church steps. Pray for us,” Allen said on Twitter.

Area North detectives are investigating.

- Sun-Times Media Wire