On June 26, 2023, 14-year-old Omarius Devon Gates was fatally shot in Peoria, Illinois. The incident occurred near the intersection of Richwoods Boulevard and Molleck Drive, where police responded to a report of a shooting around 10 p.m..
Omarius Gates, born on December 17, 2008, to Tyrea Neely and Ishmiel Gates, was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation revealed that Tramier Pate, 23, was attempting to rob Gates of what he believed was a real gun. However, the gun in Gates' possession was actually a toy designed to look real. During the robbery, Pate's firearm accidentally went off, resulting in Gates' death.
Tramier Pate was arrested the day following the shooting and was charged with first-degree murder and attempted robbery. Pate made his first court appearance on the Wednesday after the incident, with a bond hearing scheduled for the following week. Court records indicated that Pate was in the process of hiring a private attorney.
The incident marked Peoria's tenth homicide of the year, as stated by Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos. Pate's indictment was announced shortly after the incident, highlighting the tragic circumstances surrounding Omarius Gates' death due to a mistaken identity of a toy gun.
