Mother Mourns Loss of Miami Officer Killed in Pembroke Pines Home

Miami Officer Carl Patrick was found dead in his Pembroke Pines home Friday.

Just days after her son was shot and killed, a mother was grieving the loss of her son on Mother's Day.

After working for the Miami community for 25 years patrolling Liberty City and serving as a U.S. military reservist, the memory of Officer Carl Patrick still makes his mother beam with pride.

"He's a good son, and I'm proud of what he has accomplished for his life," said mother Lucille Patrick.

Carl Patrick, 52, was found dead in his Pembroke Pines home Friday. Investigators said his death was the result of a gunshot wound and his death is being classified as a homicide.

A day after the discovery, Lucille Patrick spoke with media, calling her son loving and saying he cared for her when she was sick. She said he would go to church services with her every Sunday.

"He was the best in this world," she said. "I love him very much. He does everything for me."

The victim's closest friend said she found out the bad news Saturday as she was dropping off a Mother's Day gift for Lucille Patrick.

"I didn't know what was going on," said friend Andrea Brown, whose daughter is Carl Patrick's goddaughter. "I am so hurt right now. My best friend of 18 years is gone."

Police were first notified of Carl Patrick's death when officers responded to Patrick's home on the 2100 block of NW 93rd Avenue in Pembroke Pines just after 2 p.m. Friday to perform a welfare check. His colleagues had been concerned when he didn't show up to work.

"He was responsible, showed up for work every day," said Major Delrish Moss with the Miami Police Department. "He was out for a couple of days. That's when the notifications were made."

The Miami Herald has reported that investigators believe Carl Patrick was shot by a Miami police public service aide named Tiniko Thompson. Miami Police confirmed Thompson was the officer's girlfriend and that she worked at the department as a PSA, but have not officially identified her as a suspect.

Miami Police spokesman Freddie Burden released a statement Sunday, saying the department is devastated by the loss.

"Having known Officer Patrick for nearly 25 years, I can only imagine the toll that these recent tragic events have taken on the family emotionally. The Miami Police Department feels the loss of our brother very deeply as well," the statement said.

Miami Fraternal Order of Police president Sgt. Javier Ortiz also released a statement, saying Patrck was wearing his uniform when he was killed.

"His lunch box as well as his city laptop were inside his police car which is consistent with Brother Carl going to work in order to protect the community of the City of Miami," Ortiz said. "We are confident that the City of Miami will treat his murder as a line of duty death."

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