A couple experiencing homelessness are senselessly killed Eddie Wayne Tate, known as "Tennessee," was killed on December 18, 2016, in San Francisco's Mission District. He and Lindsay Elaine McCollum, aged 27, were shot and killed while inside a makeshift wooden shelter near the corner of 16th Street and South Van Ness Avenue. Tate, who was 51 at the time, was unhoused and shared this living space with McCollum. The incident happened just before Christmas, around 8:46 p.m.
No arrests have been made, and the case remains unsolved, with the San Francisco Police Department urging anyone with information to come forward. The reward for information leading to an arrest has since been increased to $200,000, reflecting the ongoing efforts to bring the responsible parties to justice.
The community and family members have expressed their grief and frustration over the lack of progress in solving this case. Despite challenges in living conditions, Tate was known to be a resilient and recognizable figure on the streets of San Francisco. The lack of witnesses or reliable information has hindered the investigation, though a composite sketch of a person of interest was produced several years after the incident. Evangelina Salazar, a friend of McCollum, emphasized that both individuals, regardless of their circumstances, deserved justice and should not be forgotten simply because they were living on the streets.
Authorities continue to appeal for information, hoping that the significant reward may lead to someone coming forward. The murders of Eddie Tate and Lindsay McCollum highlight the vulnerabilities faced by those experiencing homelessness and the challenges law enforcement encounters in cases involving marginalized communities.
