BONIFAY, Fla. (TCN) — A 35-year-old man will spend three decades behind bars for fatally shooting his sister’s boyfriend after the victim allegedly threatened to beat him up.
The 14th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office said in an Aug. 20 news release that a judge sentenced Matthew Peoples to 30 years in prison. A jury previously convicted him in July of second-degree murder with a firearm in connection with the 2023 shooting death of 30-year-old Tyler Pate.
According to prosecutors, on Sept. 4, 2023, Pate was visiting Kaylynn Streight, his girlfriend and mother of his child, who is also Peoples’ sister. Pate and Streight reportedly argued over a prescription when he “lost his temper and broke several items, including a TV.” Authorities said the two “often argued,” but Pate “had never been physical with her.”
Per the state attorney’s office, Streight’s mother, who was next door, overheard the arguing, so she and her son, Peoples, went to check on them. Streight reportedly went back to her mother’s home with them and then left to grab a pair of shorts. At that time, prosecutors said Peoples became worried after his sister left, and he retrieved a pistol.
According to authorities, Peoples “exchanged words” with Pate. The defendant claimed Pate “charged him as if to fight, and he fired a shot” at him “rather than ‘lose a fight.'” Peoples also reportedly said the victim “threatened to beat him up.” Pate sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
Prosecutors argued that Pate “had not harmed or threatened anyone with imminent danger, was not armed, and that the defendant fired the shot because he was afraid he would lose a fight he helped provoke.”
Prosecutor Peter Overstreet stated, “The state of Florida respects your right to defend yourself. However, there’s a difference between self-defense and murder,” adding, “This was a tragic event that never would have happened but for the defendant inserting himself into his sister’s argument and arming himself. He chose to engage the victim and elevate the verbal exchange, knowing that while Pate was bigger, he was armed.”
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