Lee County man shot outside his home

Katie Stallcup
Staff writer
Published: July 9, 2008

Family members of a man shot outside his Lee County home watched with tears in their eyes as a medical helicopter flew in to take him to the hospital Wednesday night.

The call came in at approximately 9:10 p.m.

Beauregard Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Holden said the man was shot two to four times.

Felton Tate, 44, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and arm areas, Sheriff Jay Jones said Wednesday night.

“He was just walking at his residence and a single assailant ran around the corner of of the house and shot Mr. Tate,” Jones said. “A white vehicle left the scene shortly after the shooting occurred. We’re working on trying to determine even if it’s connected.”

Tate was taken by helicopter ambulance to The Medical Center in Columbus, but investigators didn’t know his condition Wednesday night, Jones said. They were also still looking into why Tate was shot.

Blood could be seen pooled on a stoop outside the mobile home’s side door.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies secured the scene and were waiting for investigators at 9:45 p.m.

Approximately 15 family members stood outside the house in the 1100 block of Lee Road 39. Yumeko Tate said she was the victim’s niece.

Her uncle was shot in the back going into his house, she said. He is a manager at Flowers Baking Company in Opelika, she said.

Deputies cordoned off a section outside the mobile home with yellow crime scene tape Wednesday night, encompassing three vehicles and a child’s swing set.

Tate lives in the house with his wife and three children, Yumeko Tate said.

None of the relatives said they knew how or why Tate was shot.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 749-5651.