Samuel Wise, 24, was sentenced to life in prison with all but 50 years suspended for the 2022 murder of Chesley Patterson, the general manager of La Scala restaurant in Little Italy, Baltimore. Wise also admitted to using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence and first-degree escape, according to Baltimore Circuit Judge Althea M. Handy’s ruling.
Patterson, 44, affectionately known as “Chesco,” was shot on January 23, 2022, while on his way home from work. The incident, which occurred less than half a mile from La Scala, was part of a robbery spree carried out by Wise and his accomplices in Southeast Baltimore.
Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates stated that Wise’s sentence reflects the commitment to holding violent offenders accountable. The community, still reeling from Patterson’s death nearly two years later, remembers him as a kind and outgoing individual who was a fixture in Little Italy.
The investigation revealed that Wise and others robbed two people before targeting Patterson. Surveillance footage showed the events leading to Patterson’s murder, including him being approached by an assailant in black who shot him after a brief altercation. Police later identified Wise through a fingerprint on the minivan used in the crime and his cellphone data, which placed him at the scene.
Wise’s attorney declined to comment on the sentencing. In addition to the life sentence, Wise will serve three years of probation upon his release. People convicted of violent crimes in Maryland are eligible for parole after serving 50% of their sentence.
The Little Italy community has mourned Patterson’s loss, with approximately 300 people gathering outside La Scala to pay tribute.