CENTREVILLE, MI (WTVB) – A St. Joseph County jury convicted 29-year-old Zachary Patten of 1st degree murder, felony murder, and other charges of Friday.
Patten was already serving a life sentence in a Kalamazoo County murder case following a night of violence on July 20th, 2017 which left two people dead.
The St. Joseph County conviction was for the shooting death of 29-year-old Shane Richardson, who had married his ex-wife. Sentencing is scheduled for June 21st.
Patten was convicted for shooting and killing 31-year-old Gabriela Portillo-Esparza in Kalamazoo County earlier that night when she got between Patten and her brother while they were arguing.
Portillo Esparza’s brother had previously dated Patten’s girlfriend at the time.
One of Patten’s friends said at the time of his arrest that the attacks may have been triggered when he lost custody of his three children.
