The 48-year-old Lady Lake man facing a second degree murder charge in the death of a 25-year-old alum of the Villages Charter School is free on $50,000 bond.
Michael Cates of 6001 Lake Griffin Road allegedly shot Jeremy Yelton of Fruitland Park during a struggle after Cates’ stepdaughter claimed she had been battered by Yelton.
Cates went looking for Yelton shortly before midnight Saturday after learning of the alleged battery from his stepdaughter’s mother. Cates armed himself with a .357 handgun tucked in his waistband, a pocket knife and an aluminum bat. In his vehicle he also had a .22 revolver and brass knuckles, according to an arrest affidavit released Wednesday by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Cates found Yelton walking on Griffin View Drive and then got out of his vehicle and began cursing and yelling at Yelton, according to the arrest affidavit.
Yelton, a former lineman for the Villages High School football team, reportedly “bear hugged” Cates and they went down to the ground on Griffin View Drive. While they were down on the ground, a third person who had been in Cates’ vehicle got out and told the two to stop, the arrest report said. At that point shots were fired.
Soon after, a 911 call was placed and deputies arrived on the scene.
Cates was taken into custody at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday.
A memorial service for Yelton is set for Saturday at Heritage Community Church in Fruitland Park.
