Following the arrest of Tommy Lyles on September 29, 2020, Fort Wayne Police Homicide Detectives continued to investigate the murder he was charged with and discovered evidence and witnesses that exonerated him.
Fort Wayne Police Department news release:
Following the arrest of Tommy Lyles on September 29th 2020, homicide detectives continued to investigate the murder he was charged with and discovered evidence and witnesses that exonerated him. Working with updated evidence and with the assistance of numerous members of the community that came forward Detectives were able to identify 59 year old Eric D. Tate M/B/59 DOB 05-06-1961 as the person who shot and killed James Hines on September 22nd.
The charges against Tommy Lyles were immediately dismissed and Lyles was released from custody following the discovery of this additional information.
After additional investigation and surveillance, detectives with the Homicide Unit, Vice & Narc Unit and Gang & Violent Crimes Unit were able to locate and arrest Eric Tate at approximately 5:00 PM. He was located at the Sunoco gas station at US 30 and 469 and he was taken into custody without incident.
Tate has been booked into the Allen County Jail and charged with the murder of James Hines.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
All information is preliminary and subject to change during the course of the investigation.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Fort Wayne Police Department at 427-1201, Crime Stoppers at 436-7867, or use the free “P3 Tips” app.
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