A Hopkinsville man was sentenced to life in prison without parole Friday for the December shooting death of an Illinois sheriff’s deputy.
40-year-old Ray Tate pled guilty to first-degree murder last month. He was originally charged with 36 counts, which included first-degree murder, aggravated vehicle hijacking, and felony possession of a firearm. In exchange for the guilty plea on the murder charges, prosecutors agreed to drop the other charges.
Tate was charged with the murder of Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley, who had responded to a motorist assist call on December 29. He was discovered by another officer a short time later.
Police found Riley’s squad car abandoned on Interstate 64 in eastern Illinois.
Tate was arrested the same afternoon following a home invasion where Tate took the homeowner hostage.
Tate also faces charges in Missouri in addition to charges for trying to escape the jail in Illinois earlier this month.
