DA: Peabody Man Killed Army Veteran, Father Of Four

PEABODY, MA -- John Patterson, 29, of Peabody, was ordered held without bail Monday following his arraignment in the murder of a U.S. Army veteran and father of four. Prosecutors say after a knife was wrestled away from him during an argument with Jeudy Romero, Patterson went outside, returned with a gun and shot Romero. He then grabbed Romero's keys and fled in his car.

Boston Police were called to a house on Goodale Road around 9:54 am Sunday, where they found a Romero with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses said Patterson yelled "Let me show you who I am!" as he fired the fatal shot that killed Romero. Romero, who was described as being in his late twenties, leaves four small children.

Patterson was initially pulled over on Blue Hill Avenue but then fled. He was spotted a short time later on foot on Washington Street and arrested.

Patterson has a lengthy criminal record, according to prosecutors, including an Essex County rape conviction. In October 2016 Patterson was arrested after leading Saugus and Lynn Police on a wild car chase. After crashing his car, Patterson fled on foot, leaping several fences before being apprehended in the Saugus River. At the time, he had three outstanding warrants.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).