Motions hearing held regarding 2021 Tiptonville murder
DYER COUNTY, Tenn. — Dyer County Circuit Court held a motions hearing Wednesday regarding a murder in 2021 in Tiptonville.
Willie Gates Jr. is charged with the murder of Jerry Yates and the attempted murder of Yates’ wife, along with several other charges.
On December 21, 2021, a double shooting occurred at a home on Cherry Street in Tiptonville that left one victim dead and one with critical injuries.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: One arrested in Dec. 21 Tiptonville homicide
The deceased individual was identified as Jerry Yates and the critically injured victim was Yates’ wife.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tiptonville Police Department began investigating the shooting and identified the suspect as Willie Gates Jr.
Gates was arrested and charged with several felonies and some of the charges include first-degree murder, felony murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted felony murder, and especially aggravated kidnapping.
In April of 2022, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested Tara Gates, who is Gates’ wife, and Cassheus Giles, who is her daughter, in connection to the murder case.
According to the TBI, the two women threatened a witness into giving a false statement during the TBI’s investigation.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Mother, daughter arrested for allegedly threatening witness
Reid Yates is the brother of the deceased victim and he describes his brother’s life.
“Jerry was a fun-loving just easy going. He loved everybody. It didn’t matter if you were the richest of the rich or the poorest of the poor he loved and respected everybody and everybody loved him,” said Yates.
Wednesday, several motions were presented to the court. One of the motions presented to the court was if Yates’ wife and his brother are allowed to sit through the entire trial hearing.
Dyer County Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes ruled that they are allowed to sit in the courtroom for the hearing. Yates was joyful when he heard that he will be in the courtroom for trial.
“I am pleased that I will be allowed to sit in the courtroom. I just felt it was necessary that if others were allowed, I should be allowed as well,” said Yates.
This case is a capital case and the prosecution is seeking the death penalty against Gates.
The trial for Gates is set to begin on January 12 and continue through January 23.
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