Attorney for Miami police officer's girlfriend says he pulled trigger

Carl Patrick found shot to death in Pembroke Pines home

OPA-LOCKA, Fla. – An attorney for the girlfriend of a Miami police officer who was found shot to death in his Pembroke Pines home claims his client was "acting in self-defense."

Miami Fraternal Order of Police President Sgt. Javier Ortiz released a statement Sunday saying that Officer Carl Patrick was found dead in his uniform Friday night.

Pembroke Pines police were called to the home on Northwest 93rd Avenue to conduct a welfare check when they discovered the body of the 25-year Miami police veteran.

Patrick's live-in girlfriend, Teniko Thompson, a Miami public service aide, is considered a person of interest in the shooting.

However, Thompson's attorney told Local 10 his client was just defending herself.

"There was a struggle. The gun went off during the struggle," attorney Rod Vereen said. "But he had his finger on the trigger. She did not."

Through her attorney, Thompson said the couple got into an argument Wednesday morning when Patrick got a gun and stuck it in her mouth.

Vereen said police took photographs of injuries she suffered at the hands of Patrick.

"She defended herself and, at the end of the day, she did not pull the trigger on that firearm," attorney Rod Vereen said. "He pulled the trigger himself."

Local 10 has learned that Thompson panicked, slept in her car and told a family member 48 hours later. That family member called 911.


About the Author:

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.