Case Acquitted: In Court, Defendant’s Friend Calls Homicide Victim a ‘Monster’

By Jaclyn Sersland [former] - August 8, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Green was acquitted of murder on Aug. 24, 2023.

On Aug. 8, a homicide defendant’s friend testified that the murder victim was “a monster” and once tried to attack her with a carjack while she was inside her car. 

Tamika Green, 37, allegedly shot and killed her boyfriend during an argument on Feb. 20, 2020 in an apartment on the 1600 block of 18th Street, SE. She is charged with second-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. 

Bryan Tate Jr., 37, was shot three times in the shoulder and hip. He died from his injuries. Defense attorneys say Green was acting in self-defense during a physical altercation with Tate. 

Prosecutors called forth Green’s friend, who is also Green’s nephew’s mother. According to her, Green was babysitting her son at the time of the murder. 

Prosecutors probed the witness about text messages exchanged between her and Green the night of the homicide. According to court documents, the witness texted Green because she sensed something was wrong and Green replied “should I open and shoot?” 

According to the witness, Green’s response had to be a typo because it did not make any sense to her. 

The witness also said she had a restraining order against Tate for an incident that occurred in December 2017. She said she went out clubbing with Green when Tate showed up and allegedly tried to start a fight with a man they were talking to. 

According to the witness, Tate followed them to Green’s mother’s house, where he smashed through the witness’ car window and tried to hit her with a carjack.

“It traumatized me… I was confused. I was devastated. I didn’t know why he’d do that to me because he was upset with her,” the witness said. 

According to the witness, she saw Green briefly after Tate’s death because Green had called her frantically to come pick up the witness’ son. She said she saw some bruising around Green’s neck, but they never talked about what happened that night. 

The witness said Tate was a “monster in her eyes” and when prosecutors asked how she felt about his death, she said “I don’t care.” 

Her testimony and the trial are set to continue on Aug. 9.