Crime
34-Year-Old Demontra Collins Charged in Chattanooga Homicide After Calling 911 Following Fatal Shooting
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A Chattanooga man has been charged with murder following a fatal shooting Wednesday afternoon that police say stemmed from an earlier dispute and resulted in both individuals exchanging gunfire.
According to the Chattanooga Police Department, 34-year-old Demontra Quintez Collins has been arrested and charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of 27-year-old Jamel Daeshun Sutton.
The incident occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of North Hickory Street.
Responding officers located Sutton behind an apartment building suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso.
He was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Less than 15 minutes after police were dispatched to the scene, Collins reportedly called 911 and told dispatchers that he and Sutton had “just shot at each other.” Officers located Collins shortly afterward.
According to an affidavit, he retrieved the weapon he used in the incident—a “Draco”-style semi-automatic firearm—when approached by law enforcement.
During an initial interview with investigators, Collins stated that he and Sutton had been involved in an argument three days prior.
On the day of the shooting, Collins said he was driving down North Hickory Street when he saw Sutton standing outside a parked vehicle.
According to witness statements, Sutton appeared to be adjusting a child’s car seat at the time.
Collins told police that he believed Sutton was reaching into the vehicle to retrieve a firearm. In response, Collins exited his vehicle with his own firearm already in hand and approached Sutton.
The report notes that Collins claimed he did not see a weapon on Sutton until after he advanced toward him.
While investigators have not yet determined who fired first, ballistic evidence indicates that Sutton discharged a 9mm pistol twice, while Collins is believed to have fired approximately 12 rounds from his Draco-style firearm.
When detectives questioned Collins about why he chose to confront Sutton with a weapon instead of avoiding the situation by continuing to drive, Collins declined to answer further questions and ended the interview.
Collins was taken into custody later that day and is currently being held on a charge of criminal homicide.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Crime
Attorneys Argue Jacob Bard Actions in Deadly Kentucky State University Shooting Were Legally Justified
Attorneys representing Jacob Bard, the man accused in a deadly shooting at Kentucky State University, contend that his actions were legally justified and undertaken in defense of his family amid what they describe as a violent and uncontrolled situation on campus.
In a press release issued Monday afternoon, Bard’s legal team from the Indiana-based law firm Danks & Danks asserted that Bard “was completely justified under the law in his use of deadly force.”
Bard is accused of fatally shooting one Kentucky State University student and wounding another during an incident at a campus dormitory.
According to the attorneys’ statement, Bard traveled to Kentucky State University after his younger son reported being attacked on multiple occasions.
The release alleges that on Monday, December 8, a group of approximately 20 to 30 individuals gathered outside the son’s dormitory, some allegedly armed, and began beating on the door. Campus police were reportedly called to respond to the disturbance.
The following morning, Bard and his wife met with Kentucky State University police. While the attorneys stated that officers appeared sincere in their efforts, they claimed it was evident to the family that campus police were “ill-prepared to deal with the out-of-control and violent environment.”
The legal team further alleges that both the university and its police department failed to adequately address what they described as multiple armed and violent felonies against Bard’s sons, ages 18 and 19, as well as other students in the days preceding the shooting.
Those alleged incidents included burglaries and armed assaults.
Later that morning, the family attended a meeting at Young Hall with campus police and a university dean.
According to the release, the meeting left the family convinced that the university would not be able to maintain a safe environment, prompting them to begin removing the son’s belongings from the dormitory.
When the family returned to the residence hall, the attorneys claim that individuals previously involved in the alleged assaults were present, despite assurances they would not be allowed inside.
The statement further alleges that those individuals photographed the family and made verbal threats.
The attorneys contend that, even with two armed Kentucky State University police officers present, a group of 20 to 30 individuals gathered in the dormitory lobby and “violently and viciously attacked” Bard’s son and family members.
According to the release, Bard’s son was slammed into the concrete floor and beaten by multiple people, and the officer on scene allegedly lost control of the situation.
“In the chaos,” the attorneys wrote, Bard attempted to pull attackers off his son but was struck himself. Believing his son to be in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, Bard then drew his firearm and shot two individuals whom the attorneys say were actively assaulting his son.
The legal team also stated that no charges have been filed against others allegedly involved in the confrontation and claimed the Bard family has continued to receive death threats.
The release further alleges that the mother of the deceased student has publicly called for retaliation against Bard’s son and sought assistance from criminal groups—claims that have not been independently verified by authorities.
The case against Bard was presented to a grand jury on December 16.
During a previous court hearing, a detective testified that at least one video reviewed by investigators did not show the shooting victims assaulting Bard’s son.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not issued a final determination regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.