17-year-old surrenders to Sheriff's Office, charged with open count of murder.

COTTONDALE — An argument between two Jackson County family members ended in gunfire Monday afternoon, leaving one dead and the other in custody.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday that Daniel Joseph Pate, 17, fatally shot his uncle Michael Dewitt Pate, 56, Monday afternoon outside the teen’s Cottondale residence. JCSO confirmed Tuesday that Michael Pate, of Fountain, had died of a single gunshot wound.

Daniel Pate is being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) on an open count of murder, and JCSO reported he could be facing additional charges in the case.

The shooting happened about 3:45 p.m. Monday outside a trailer at 3604 Veteran Road, just northwest of Cottondale. JCSO Capt. Scott Edwards said other family members discovered the scene and called authorities after Daniel Pate had fled in Michael Pate’s car. But not long afterward, the teen was in custody.

“A short time later — maybe 20 minutes — we got a call from the suspect,” Edwards said. “He said he was outside a church on Kynesville Highway, he was unarmed and he was waiting for us to arrive.”

The teen was arrested outside the Bethlehem Church, 2300 Bethlehem Road.

Details of what led to the shooting are currently “sketchy,” Edwards said. JCSO reported that the two had been in an argument outside the trailer where the teen lives on the afternoon of the shooting. Michael Pate was inside his vehicle as Daniel Pate stood outside it, and at some point, the teen armed himself and allegedly shot Michael Pate.

Daniel Pate then allegedly moved the victim before fleeing in the car, JCSO reported.

At the time of his arrest, Daniel Pate did not have the firearm on him, officers reported. Its whereabouts remain unclear.

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