Thousand Oaks nursing home resident suspected of killing his roommate

A resident of a Thousand Oaks nursing home has been arrested on suspicion of killing his roommate, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said.

Officers responded to a call at 4:40 a.m. Friday from the Silverado Memory Care Facility on Warwick Avenue about a resident who was agitated and had broken a window, according to a Sheriff’s Department report press release.

Officers found resident Thomas Buckley, 58, in a common area of ​​the facility and detained him, authorities said. Nursing home staff then checked on his roommate, Michael Patterson, 72. Workers discovered that Patterson had serious injuries that appeared to be caused by an assault.

Paramedics were called to the scene and Patterson was pronounced dead a short time later, authorities said.

Investigators said that before emergency responders arrived, Buckley assaulted one of the facility’s employees, causing minor injuries.

Patterson’s death is being investigated as a homicide. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of death.

Buckley was arrested on suspicion of murder, assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism, the Sheriff’s Department said. He remains in custody and his bail has been set at $2 million. His arraignment hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Ventura County Superior Court.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Det. Gerardo Cruz at (805) 384-4726 or Det. Erik Hernandez at (805) 384-4729.