In the winter of 2020, a domestic tragedy unfolded in a Southeast Washington, D.C. residence, culminating in the death of 37-year-old Bryan BJ Tate, Jr. A Black male, Tate was found deceased from multiple gunshot wounds inside his apartment in the 1600 block of 18th Street, SE, on the afternoon of February 20, 2020. The discovery was made after his family requested a welfare check when they were unable to reach him.
Responding officers and emergency services found him with no signs of life, and an investigation into his death immediately began.
The Metropolitan Police Department's investigation into the homicide, which they determined was domestic in nature, spanned over a year and a half. In September 2021, a significant development occurred with the arrest of 35-year-old Tamika Green, who was identified as Tate's girlfriend. She was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder while armed. According to court documents, Green initially told relatives and friends that one or two men had entered the apartment they shared and shot Tate, causing her to flee with her young nephew who was in an adjacent room. However, investigators found that her account of the events changed over time. The investigation also uncovered a history of domestic turmoil, with witnesses stating that Green had previously threatened Tate with weapons during their seven-year relationship.
The legal proceedings that followed brought further details of the couple's volatile relationship to light. During the trial, Green's defense attorneys argued that she had acted in self-defense during a physical altercation with Tate. Testimonies painted a grim picture of their life together, with a friend of Green describing Tate as 'a monster' and detailing a previous alleged attack. In August 2023, a jury acquitted Tamika Green of the murder charge. She was, however, found guilty of carrying a pistol without a license and received a 24-month sentence. In a final turn of events, this conviction was later overturned on appeal, and in February 2025, prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the remaining charge, which was granted by a judge.
