Walker County detention officer charged with son’s murder
The Walker County detention officer who is charged for the murder of his son on Saturday had a lengthy career in law enforcement and worked as an emergency medical service director as well.
Sheriff Steve Wilson said Patrick Ray Wooten had worked as a Walker County detention officer for about seven years. Prior to his employment at the jail, Wooten worked for the Chickamauga and Rossville police departments, was a deputy at one time with the Walker County Sheriff’s Department and was one the EMS directors for Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe.
On Saturday, May 6, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested by the Chickamauga Police Department to conduct a death investigation at the 1009 Hood Avenue address in Chickamauga.
Around noon, Chickamauga police received a 911 call that a person had been shot in the chest at the residence.
Once officers arrived, the victim was identified as 30-year-old Patrick Lance Wooten.
Wooten was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was sent to Decatur where an autopsy will be performed at the GBI Crime Lab.
The victim’s father, 58-year- old Patrick Ray Wooten was charged with one count of malice murder and is currently being held at the Catoosa County jail.
Wilson said due to the conflict of Wooten working at the Walker County Jail, Wooten was sent to the Catoosa County jail.
Pat Wooten lived at the residence on Hood Avenue with his son.
Patrick Lance Wooten (called Lance) has had a history of arrests for simple battery under family violence.
According to Chattanooga news reports, friends close to the family said an argument between the father and son occurred the day of the murder due to the son’s recent arrest for simple battery- family violence.
On Tuesday, April 25, Patrick Lance Wooten was arrested for simple batteryfamily violence. Wooten was arrested prior to this charge for simple battery-family violence on Feb. 24 as well as on Jan. 25 for the same charge. In October 2016, he was arrested for offense against a public order.
Wooten was arrested for obstructing or hindering persons making emergency phone calls, simple battery in August 2016. He has arrested for simple battery on multiple occasions dating back to 2014.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the GBI Calhoun office (706-624-1424) or the Chickamauga Police Department (706-375-3172).