Michael Dewitt Pate, a 56-year-old white male, was tragically killed on November 6, 2017, in Cottondale, Florida. The incident occurred following an argument between Michael and his 17-year-old nephew, Daniel Joseph Pate, outside Daniel's residence. The confrontation escalated, resulting in Daniel fatally shooting Michael with a hunting rifle. Michael was inside his vehicle when Daniel, standing outside, shot him in the left eye. After the shooting, Daniel moved Michael's body from the vehicle and fled the scene in Michael's car.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office quickly responded to the scene after being alerted by other family members who discovered the aftermath of the shooting. Daniel was apprehended shortly after he called the authorities from a nearby church, where he waited unarmed for the police to arrive. He was subsequently charged with an open count of murder and held at the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The investigation revealed that the argument between Michael and Daniel had turned violent, leading to the fatal shooting. Daniel's actions following the shooting, including moving the body and fleeing in the victim's car, were critical pieces of evidence in the case. The firearm used in the shooting was not found on Daniel at the time of his arrest, and its whereabouts remained unclear.
In July 2019, Daniel Joseph Pate pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with a firearm and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The case was prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, with Assistant State Attorney Mark E. Graham leading the prosecution. The sentencing marked the conclusion of a tragic case that deeply affected the Pate family and the Cottondale community.
