Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office, (SRSO), reports a Pace man was arrested on homicide charges Tuesday morning. Reports said James Hunter Gates, 20, was at home with Cynthia Gates and the victim and consuming alcoholic beverages. Reports said the victim and Hunter Gates were consuming rum and beer and both men were intoxicated. Deputies said all three persons were in the room when the victim took hold of Hunter’s 12 gauge pump action shotgun, which was normally kept in Hunter’s room. Hunter saw the victim load a shotgun shell into the chamber. Reports said Hunter then saw the victim work the action of the shotgun, which ejected the shell. In a playing manner, the victim held the muzzle end of the barrel to his chin area and waved the buttstock end toward Cynthia and Hunter. Deputies said the victim made a statement to Hunter to the effect of “bet you won’t pull it,” which referred to pulling the trigger. The shotgun fired, reports said and the victim was shot underneath the chin and pronounced dead by paramedics at 10:32 p.m. SRSO reports further investigation revealed prior to the incident, Hunter had loaded a shotgun shell into the chamber. When the victim loaded the gun, reports said, Hunter forgot about the previous load. At this point, SRSO said, the shotgun was loaded with two shells; when Hunter saw the victim eject a shell, Hunter thought the gun was empty. Hunter Gates was charged with homicide-negligent manslaughter, weapons offenses and possession of alcohol under 21. He is being held without bond at Santa Rosa County Jail.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pace man charged with homicide