For Immediate Release
Aug. 14, 2019
A Jackson County judge on Wednesday sentenced Tyler J. Gates of Independence to 20 years in prison for his role in the January 2018 fatal shooting of Matthew Haylock, 17, at an Independence Center parking lot, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
A jury in June 2019 found Gates guilty of Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action. The jury recommended that Gates, dob: 11/16/1999, serve sentences of 20 years on the Murder 2nd Degree conviction and 7 years on the Armed Criminal Action conviction. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced Gates as the jury recommended, and the judge set those sentences to run concurrently.
According to court records, Independence police responded on a reported shooting the evening of Jan. 2, 2018 at Independence Center in the 18800 block of East 39th Street South. Officers found the victim on the pavement. A witness told police that the defendant was in a vehicle with the victim.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Traci Stansell and Hallie Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.
For more information, contact:
Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile: (816) 674-3954
mmansur@jacksongov.org
http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.