On the evening of May 8, 2023, in Roanoke, Virginia, 32-year-old Jaleel Tate was fatally shot while in his vehicle in the 3800 block of Panorama Avenue NW. Tate, a male, was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy later confirmed that he died from seven gunshot wounds.
Tragically, Tate's 9-month-old son was in the back of the car in a safety seat during the shooting but was fortunately unharmed.
The investigation into the shooting led police to identify Al-Sharreief M. Mahoney, Tate's cousin, as the suspect. Mahoney, who was 40 years old at the time of the offense, was arrested and subsequently charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The relationship between the two had reportedly been strained since a falling out in 2012. According to Tate's sister, Mahoney was responsible for her brother's death.
In November 2023, a jury found Al-Sharreief M. Mahoney guilty of murder, use of a firearm, and shooting into an occupied vehicle. In February 2024, he was sentenced to 33 years in prison, with 10 years suspended. This sentence consisted of 30 years with 10 suspended for the second-degree murder charge and three years for the firearm charge. However, an appeal was filed, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to prove Mahoney shared the gunman's intent, asserting he was a principal in the second degree. Court documents from the appeal state that a witness saw a Black man with a firearm, wearing a white shirt and jeans, get into a white Chevrolet Lumina and drive away after the gunshots. Another witness heard the wounded Tate say that 'his brother did it.' The appeal contended that while Mahoney's wife's car was used in the commission of the crime, there was insufficient evidence to prove he knew of the shooter's intent.
