The suspect in a murder in Gainesville’s Suburban Heights neighborhood on Jan. 11 was booked into the Alachua County Jail on Friday, and a sworn complaint released has revealed new details about the killing.
Jail records show James Thomas Tate, 28, was booked into the jail at 8:55 a.m. on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and grand theft auto. He had been held since the night of the alleged shooting at the Columbia County Jail following a chase on Interstate 75. He is being held at the jail on no bond.
According to the sworn complaint, Tate, his boss Marvin Miller, and a coworker traveled from Mississippi for work and were staying at an Airbnb rental at 4720 NW 16th Place in Gainesville.
In an interview with Gainesville Police Department detectives, Tate said he got a “wild idea” while lying in bed, and went outside to his boss’s truck to retrieve a bag. He said the bag, which he had seen two days earlier, contained cash and a handgun.
Tate then walked in the front door of the home and directly to Miller’s room. Tate said Miller got out of bed armed with a handgun. Tate then shot Miller, 54, multiple times, the complaint says.