{"id":113535,"date":"2022-11-08T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/?p=113535"},"modified":"2022-11-07T23:12:32","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T04:12:32","slug":"at-vigil-in-riverhead-jimi-patterson-22-remembered-as-talented-rapper-who-helped-so-many-around-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2022\/11\/113535\/at-vigil-in-riverhead-jimi-patterson-22-remembered-as-talented-rapper-who-helped-so-many-around-him\/","title":{"rendered":"At vigil in Riverhead, Jimi Patterson, 22, remembered as talented rapper who helped so many around him"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Under the light of a full moon Monday evening, Robert Patterson looked out to the dozens of friends and family members holding candles at Coach Mike McKillop Memorial Field in Riverhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They had gathered to remember his son, James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Patterson shared a story of the close bond his son shared with his grandmother, who was his mema. She had died about a year ago. In some way, in whatever form heaven exists, he said he knew they were together again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There’s a little bit of peace in that for me at least and I think if you knew him very well, there’d be some peace in that for you, too,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a guitar in hand, Mr. Patterson then began to play a rendition of “Amazing Grace.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through music, stories and tears, friends and family members shared memories of the 22-year-old, remembering Jimi as an aspiring rapper who lifted up those around him and lived every day to the fullest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 60 people attended the vigil, organized in large part by Jimi’s sister, Alyssa Robichaud. The Riverhead Central School District granted the family access to the school grounds to hold the event for the Riverhead native. Jimi died following an unprovoked axe attack in Oklahoma<\/a> where he had recently moved near his mother. Police in Tulsa, Okla. have charged a 26-year-old man with murder in the attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m so thankful to have such an amazing little brother gifted to all of us, that’s all I could ever want,” Ms. Robichaud said during the vigil. “Jimi has helped so many people in more ways than anyone could ever imagine. He’s talented, a musician, an artist, a rapper, a comedian, a therapist, a friend, a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, an uncle and so much more.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n