Dearing Man Charged With Felony Murder Nearly Three Years After Thomson Shooting

THOMSON, Ga. – A 27-year-old Dearing man has been arrested and charged with felony murder in connection with a 2023 shooting that left a Thomson man dead and a woman wounded, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The GBI identified the suspect as Mateo Pinkston, 27, of Dearing. Pinkston was arrested on Aug. 12, nearly three years after the killing of Steveance Tate, 32, of Thomson.

Pinkston is charged with Felony Murder, two counts of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime.

The investigation dates back to Sept. 9, 2023, when the Thomson Police Department requested assistance from the GBI following a deadly shooting.

Victims Were Sitting in Car When Gunman Approached

At approximately 11 p.m., McDuffie County 911 received a report of shots fired at a residence in the 800 block of A Street in Thomson.

Thomson Police officers responded and found Tate dead at the scene with apparent gunshot wounds.

Investigators also learned that a woman at the residence had been shot.

According to preliminary information released by the GBI, Tate and the woman were sitting inside a vehicle in front of the home when an unidentified person approached the car and began shooting.

The woman survived and was transported to a local hospital, where she was treated for her injuries and later released.

Tate’s body was transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Authorities did not disclose what evidence developed during the nearly three-year investigation that ultimately led investigators to Pinkston or provide a possible motive for the shooting.

Pinkston Booked Into McDuffie County Jail

Pinkston was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 12, and booked into the McDuffie County Jail.

Despite the arrest, the GBI said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Once investigators complete the case, the file will be forwarded to the Toombs Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.

Anyone with information about Tate’s death is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Thomson at 706-595-2575. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the GBI tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or through the agency’s online and mobile tip services.