State Police say a 40-year-old Hopkinsville, Kentucky man is in custody for his alleged involvement in a series of crimes on Wednesday including the murder of a Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy, multiple carjackings, a kidnapping, and home invasion.
Ray Tate was taken into custody by the Illinois State Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team after they were able to make their way inside a rural Carlyle residence where the homeowner and kidnap victim was being held, hostage.
State Police say Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley was dispatched to a motorist assist at milepost 115 on I-64 near Mill Shoals around five Wednesday morning. Riley was last heard from when he checked on the license plate number. A short time later, another responding officer located Riley deceased on the scene. The deputy’s squad car was missing and then located abandoned a short time later just east of the scene.
Ray Tate (Vincennes, IN Police Department)
It is believed Tate carjacked a truck tractor semi-trailer near the area Riley’s squad car was located. The driver of the truck tractor semi-trailer was held against his will and drove Tate to a gas station in St Peters, Missouri.
While in Missouri, Illinois State Police say a series of carjackings, robberies, and shootings occurred. Tate then traveled back into Illinois with a kidnapped victim in another stolen vehicle. That stolen vehicle was located at a residence off Beaver Road in rural Carlyle. Tate is accused of committing a home invasion and taking the homeowner and the kidnapped victim hostage.
At approximately 1:42 p.m. ISP Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) operators were able to make entry into the residence and took the suspect into custody without incident. The homeowner and kidnapped victim were located in the residence uninjured.
Tate was then transported to the Clinton County Jail where he is being charged with First Degree Murder by the Wayne County State’s Attorney.
On behalf of Illinois State Police, ISP Director Brendan Kelly extended his heartfelt condolences to Deputy Riley’s family, friends, and brothers and sisters at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
“Once again, the Illinois State Police has safely apprehended an alleged cop killer with exceptional professionalism, patience, and persistence standing side by side with all Illinois law enforcement through another dark and difficult moment. Mercifully, this incident was concluded with no further harm to first responders, and this defendant will now face justice,” concluded Kelly.
The Illinois State Police was assisted by multiple agencies in southern Illinois and eastern Missouri that worked together to bring this fugitive to justice.
Tate was already being sought by Vincennes, Indiana Police following an unsuccessful carjacking attempt at the Red Roof Inn on December 16th. He allegedly fired a single shot into the passenger window of a car after the driver refused to give up the vehicle. Tate then fled in a vehicle that was later found abandoned.
