Popular Little Italy restaurant manager shot and killed; brazen murder caught on camera

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A beloved restaurant worker is gunned down in Fells Point, and the brazen murder was caught on camera.

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It's one of Baltimore city's latest homicides, in a particularly violent month. Police had not identified the victim as of late Monday night, but loved ones say his name is Chesley Patterson, general manager of the prominent La Scala restaurant in Little Italy.

A surveillance camera at a corner store on Eastern Avenue captured the crime on video. In the video, obtained by FOX45 News, Patterson is seen walking from his car, then later gunshots.

"I lost a family member because La Scala is a big family," said Nino Germano, owner of La Scala.

Inside the restaurant Monday, it was a somber mood as loved ones gathered after hearing about Patterson's death, including a long-time employee, turned best friend who missed a call from Patterson moments before police got the call.

"At 11:04 [that night] I missed phone call from him; that was the last phone call," said Bulat Kamelov. "Nobody can replace him. Certain people, certain things--him, no one can replace him," added Kamelov fighting back tears.

Police responded to the call on Eastern Avenue just after midnight Monday. They found Patterson shot. He died later at the hospital.

Before the gunfire, surveillance video shows Patterson getting out of his car, walking into the corner store. An employee said he purchased two items, talked a bit, then walked out.

Patterson is then seen putting his purchase in the trunk of his car. He gets inside, tries driving away.

That's when a vehicle is seen rolling up next to Patterson's car. A man seen holding a gun, jumps out, opens the driver's door and shoots before the suspect's vehicle drives off.

The deadly shooting has rocked the restaurant community in Little Italy.

"It's very sad, it's very sad," said Giovanna Blattermann, owner of Cafe Gia. "I'm tired of seeing Fells Point crime, Federal Hill crime, Little Italy crime, Canton crime. This is Baltimore crime, and we have to do something about it now."

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"I feel hurt and frustrated because the same thing happens every day in the city. Everybody knows what the problem is and nobody fixes it," said Germano.

Homicide detectives are working this case. For now, they say, they don't have a motive and they don't have a suspect. But FOX45 is told investigators do have that surveillance video.

Anyone with information is urged to call police. You can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward by calling Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP(1-866-756-2587).