Death penalty not sought in homicide trial

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 17, 2012

By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — The Rowan County District Attorney’s Office will not seek the death penalty in a case against a Salisbury man accused of killing a man at his ex-girlfriend’s house.
It was determined during a Rule 24-hearing this morning in Rowan Superior Court there were no aggravating factors against Terrell Bowman.
“There are no aggravating factors by statute to support the death penalty,” District Attorney Brandy Cook said later.
Bowman, 20, is charged with murder in the death of Dwante Patterson, 32, who was shot from behind inside his girlfriend’s Mildred Avenue home.
The incident occurred Nov. 29, following an altercation with Bowman and Patterson.
Patterson, the father of three of Wendy Lilly’s children was at the home to pay for a babysitter.
Bowman, who had dated Lilly for about 10 months reportedly hit Patterson and Lilly’s 16-year-old daughter on a previous occasion.
An argument ensued and Bowman, according to Lilly, walked into a bedroom. She left the home with her children. She heard shots being fired shortly after leaving.
Patterson was shot once in the upper back and died later the same day at Rowan Regional Medical Center.
No trial date has been set.
See Saturday’s Post for more details.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.