Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office: Victim fatally shot was not pregnant, suspect facing Felony Murder charges

ROCKDALE COUNTY—The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office today(July 3) released new information concerning an argument between two women that led to a fatal shooting of one of the women.

Authorities said that according to an autopsy report, Kyla Cooper, 24, was not pregnant at the time that she was fatally shot by Arkia Tate on June 20. Tate is facing Felony Murder charges in connection with the case, the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office said.

A cousin of Cooper had told news reporters at the scene on the morning of the shooting that Cooper went to her boyfriend’s home to tell him that she was pregnant and while she was there, Tate, who also was dating the same man, arrived and the women argued. Tate fatally shot Cooper, whom the cousin said had two young children.

The incident occurred on June 20, at approximately 12:44 a.m. at a home in the 2600 block of Golfview Terrace. Tate, who fled the scene after the shooting, was taken into custody shortly after the incident, authorities said.

In addition to Felony Murder, Tate is facing charges of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a felony.

A second individual, Rashad Thompson, also was arrested at the scene for charges unrelated to the murder, the Sheriff’s Office said.