BONIFAY – A 6-person jury took 45 minutes Wednesday to find Matthew Ryan Peoples guilty as charged of Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm in the 2023 shooting death of Tyler Pate during a disturbance.
Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts ordered a Presentencing Investigation and set sentencing for Aug. 20 at 1:15 p.m.
Prosecutors Peter Overstreet and Jacob Cook called 10 witnesses and presented evidence proving that the defendant shot Pate, who was unarmed, after an evening of verbal disturbances between the victim and the defendant’s sister.
The defendant, 35, claimed the victim, 30, had threatened to beat him up. And when they were outside, with police on the way, Peoples said Pate started running toward him as if to fight. Peoples shot Pate once in the chest.
Overstreet and Cook proved the victim 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.
“The State of Florida respects your right to defend yourself,” Overstreet said. “However, there’s a difference between self-defense and murder.
“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 said. “He chose to engage the victim and elevate the verbal exchange knowing that while Pate was bigger, he was armed.”
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Witness testimony and evidence showed that on Sept. 4, 2023, Pate was at 601 E. Pennsylvania Ave., visiting his girlfriend, Kaylynn Streight, who is Peoples’ sister. She and Pate shared a child. Peoples lived with his mother at 603 Pennsylvania Ave.
Pate and Streight were arguing over whether she’d had a prescription filled when he lost his temper and broke several items, including a TV. Testimony showed the two often argued but that Pate had never been physical with her.
Streight called her mother next door to have her confirm for Pate that the prescription was not filled, and her mother, Alana Peoples, overheard the arguing. Alana Peoples testified she was worried about her daughter and grandchild, so she and her son went next door to check on them.
Streight returned with them to 603 Pennsylvania Ave. and police were called. Streight returned to her home at 601 Pennsylvania to retrieve a pair of shorts. The defendant told investigators when he noticed his sister had left, he became worried, retrieved his pistol, and loaded.
He went back outside, armed, and exchanged words with the victim. That is when Peoples said Pate charged him as if to fight, and he fired a shot.
“You can’t kick the hornet’s nest and then wonder, ‘Gee, why are these hornets trying to sting me,’” Overstreet said.
In the statement to investigators after the shooting, the defendant said he was not afraid of the victim but was afraid the victim could and would beat him up.
“Peoples told investigators if there was a fight, ‘we know how that’s going to end,’’ Overstreet said. “So he shot a man because he didn’t want to lose a fight that he helped provoke.”
Basford thanked the Bonifay Police Department for its response and initial investigation, along with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.