Two Knox County residents charged in separate shooting incidents last month have both pleaded not guilty, now that a grand jury has filed charges in both cases.
In one case, 18-year-old Latrell Patterson pleaded not guilty at arraignment Tuesday on charges affirmed Friday by a grand jury including Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, and Possession of Firearm Ammunition Without a Firearm Owners I.D. Card.
Patterson is accused of firing at least two shots during a fight that spread into the carnival the Saturday night of Railroad Days last month. No one was injured, but Patterson allegedly fled to a getaway car after the fight.
In the second case, 58-year-old James Love pleaded not guilty to grand jury-filed charges of Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, and Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm.
Love allegedly got into an altercation with 19-year-old Xavier Hartman after Hartman’s vehicle somehow crashed near Love’s rural Galva home. Love is believed to have shot Hartman in the leg.
Hartman died at a Kewanee hospital after a bullet hit a main artery. Love was charged with murder until the grand jury indictment superseded it.
Patterson and Love will both be back in court August sixth for pre-trial hearings. Patterson remains jailed, while Love is out of jail after posting bond.
