Hundreds gather at vigil for restaurant manager in Little Italy, frustrated over crime

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Hundreds of people gathered in Little Italy Wednesday night to remember Chesley Patterson, a restaurant manager murdered in Fells Point.

It was another vigil with more candles burning in Baltimore - the familiar light that glows at gatherings seen so many times before across the city.

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This time they gathered outside the La Scala restaurant, where Patterson was general manager. He was shot and killed just after midnight Monday in Fells Point.

"To see his life taken like this, I mean, why? For what?" one man said at the vigil, fighting back tears.

"He's gone forever and I'm sure the people who did it didn't give one crap about him. So, he's gone," said a woman amid the crowd.

Patterson's murder, which was caught on surveillance video obtained by FOX45 News, comes at a time when two other unsuspecting city residents were caught up in the continuing surge of gun violence seen across the city - including James Blue who was fatally shot Tuesday outside a home on Walker Avenue in northeast Baltimore. He was the 43-year-old husband of a Baltimore City police lieutenant and father of three children.

Also, a food delivery driver was shot and killed in northeast Baltimore - a 51-year-old wife and mother murdered just hours after Patterson's deadly shooting.

At the vigil, there was frustration over the crimes.

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"Yes, I'm pissed off about Chesley getting killed for no reason. But the reason I'm pissed off about him is because I know him, he was close to my heart," said Nino Germano, owner of La Scala. "But there are a lot of good people that get killed every day. If you don't start doing something about that, [it will push] us out the city," he added.

Frustration also brewed over Mayor Brandon Scott's absence from the vigil. Residents wanted to hear from him about his crime plan. Scott was invited but did not attend.

But city councilman Zeke Cohen, who represents that district, did attend.

"[Chesley's] loss is tragic and heartbreaking," said Cohen.

FOX45 pressed Cohen about the crime, wanting to know what he's doing about it.

Cohen reminded us that all city leaders must push forward and make sure the mayor is implementing his plan. But when asked about the concerns of some residents who feel that plan is not working, Cohen said they've got to make sure it does and "hold that plan accountable."