Latest Headlines
- ‘Jeff Bergosh Is Grateful’ — Longtime Public Servant Says Goodbye At Last Commission Meeting
- Ernest Ward Middle School Honors Veterans (With Photo Gallery)
- Two Injured In Single Vehicle Crash Near Century
- Former Ernest Ward Middle School Bookkeeper Charged With Embezzling Over $50,000
- What Happens To Ernest Ward Middle Groups That Are Missing Thousands Of Dollars?
- Inez Chancery of McDavid Celebrating 102nd Birthday
- Escambia Elections Boss: Election Was Smooth, Turnout Exceeds 75%
- SEC Soccer Tournament Draws Thousands To Escambia County, National TV Coverage
- Local Students Attend SEC Soccer Tournament
- Steven Barry Keeps Escambia County Commission District 5 Seat For Fourth Term
Santa Rosa Man Gets 13 Years In Shotgun Play Death
March 18, 2015
A man playing with a shotgun when his friend was shot will spend the next 13 years in state prison James Hunter Gates was convicted of manslaughter with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted delinquent. Gates faced a maximum sentence of 45 years in state prison.
Gates, 20, was arrested on August 25, 2014 after deputies responded to a shooting at a residence on Keyser Lane in Pace. They found 24-year old Romeo Wolff dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office determined that Gates and Wolff were drinking alcoholic beverages in a bedroom that evening while playing with a shotgun that belonged to Gates.
As a convicted delinquent, Gates was prohibited from possessing any firearms.
Wolff pointed the barrel of the gun at his face and dared Gates to pull the trigger. Gates responded by pulling the trigger which caused the gun to fire. Wolff was struck in the face with the blast and died at the scene.
Comments
4 Responses to “Santa Rosa Man Gets 13 Years In Shotgun Play Death”
Alcohol and firearms make a deadly combination.
Gun ‘belonged’ to someone bared from having a gun. Yet another case of a criminal who was barred from having a gun – but gun one anyhow.
Laws that limit gun purchases only penalize law abiding citizens.
Paul, please if i may….
Wolff pointed the barrel of the gun at his face and dared Gates to pull the trigger. Gates responded by pulling the trigger which caused the gun to fire. Wolff was struck in the face with the blast and died at the scene.
thank you
he got off too easy.. If he was drinking and driving and killed he would have got 20 yrs.. Outright killin someone and getting only 13 yrs just isn’t right..