Suspect Arrested In Death Of Little Italy Restaurant Manager: Police

BALTIMORE, MD — Baltimore police have arrested a man they say is responsible for killing the 44-year-old manager of La Scala Ristorante Italiano, a popular eatery in Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood.

Samuel Wise, 22, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the January death of Chesley Patterson, according to Baltimore police.

Wise is also charged with armed robbery, assault and several other charges, CBS Baltimore reported.

Patterson was shot on Jan. 24 shortly after he closed and left the restaurant. Patterson drove to and went inside the Bristol Liquor store, the Baltimore Sun reported. He then left the store, put items in his truck and got into the vehicle through the driver's side door.

According to the Sun, a minivan pulled up and a person wearing all black got out of the passenger side, walked up to Patterson, pointed a gun at him and pulled Patterson’s driver-side door open. The gunman fired at Patterson before getting back in the van, the Sun reported, citing charging documents.

Patterson was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Wise was arrested and charged Tuesday night after attempting to flee Baltimore police headquarters. He was quickly apprehended and taken to Central Booking, police said.