Court records detail murder of University of Memphis student

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man has been arrested and charged with the murder of a University of Memphis student who was reported missing, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).

Vincent Patterson, 22, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Barshay Wilson.

RELATED: Family, friends say missing University of Memphis student vanished the night before graduation

Wilson was reported missing on December 10, 2022, just days before his graduation from the University of Memphis.

Witnesses told police that Wilson received a call and walked out of a house on Green Drive. That was the last time Wilson was seen alive, according to police.

Members of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fire call about 90 minutes after Wilson walked out of that home on Green Drive, police said. Deputies found a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro belonging to someone else and Wilson’s Tennessee ID.

RELATED: Body found near burned car identified by police as missing U of M student

Two days later, when deputies returned to the scene, those authorities discovered Wilson’s body 75 feet away from where the car was found burned, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO). Authorities said Wilson had multiple gunshot wounds and was dead at the scene.

Through interviews and watching video surveillance, investigators identified Patterson as the person responsible for Wilson’s death, SCSO said.

According to court records, Patterson was taken into custody, waived his rights and admitted to killing Wilson, stealing his marijuana, burning the Camaro and dumping Wilson’s body nearby.

Memphis Police said that Patterson has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder in perpetration of robbery, especially aggravated robbery and tempering with/fabricating evidence.