A Woodbury man who allegedly went on a drunken shooting spree with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a Glock 21 semi-automatic handgun during an argument with family members in November putting their lives in danger appeared for sentencing Monday, April 10 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Judge Gary McKenzie presided.
Joshua Lorne Tate, charged with five counts of aggravated assault, stop frisk halt arrest, assault, and possession of a handgun while under the influence, entered a plea by criminal information to one count of aggravated assault. He received a six year sentence on TDOC probation with credit for time served in the DeKalb County Jail from November 20, 2016 to April 10, 2017. Tate must also forfeit his weapons.
Although no one was injured, Sheriff Patrick Ray said Tate endangered the lives of his (Tate’s) wife, step daughter (juvenile), brother-in-law and his two sons (both juveniles), and a deputy.
The incident began after Tate and his wife and step-daughter got into an argument. The victims ran toward and hid under a bridge in a creek bottom as Tate produced an AR 15 semi-automatic rifle and began shooting several times in their direction.
Later, as Tate’s brother-in-law and his two sons drove up, Tate produced a Glock 21 semi-automatic handgun and began firing at them as they sat in their vehicle and continued shooting even after they started backing down the driveway to get away. The gunshots struck the automobile at least five times in the front end and the hood.
After 911 was notified, deputies arrived on the scene and found Tate uncooperative. According to Sheriff Ray, Tate disobeyed officer’s commands to stop and halt and he even advanced toward a deputy in a threatening manner. At one point, Tate ran toward his vehicle where officers suspected Tate had weapons. After Tate was forcibly taken into custody, officers found a loaded AR 15 rifle on the passenger seat of his automobile. The Glock handgun was also recovered.
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