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
14-Year-Old Middleton High School Student Carson Chrapkowski Dies After Bicycle Crash, Driver Alyssa Anderson Arrested
MIDDLETON, Idaho — A 14-year-old Middleton High School student has died after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle near the high school Friday night, according to the Middleton Police Department.
The teenager was transported by Life Flight to St. Luke’s Boise following the crash but died from his injuries early Saturday morning.
Middleton police said the crash involved a vehicle and a bicyclist near Middleton High School. The 14-year-old suffered critical injuries and was flown to a Boise hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Police announced Saturday morning that the young bicyclist had succumbed to his injuries.
The teen was identified in the information provided for this report as Carson Chrapkowski, a Middleton High School student. However, the police department’s public statement did not release the teenager’s name.
Police arrested 41-year-old Alyssa Louise Anderson in connection with the crash. Anderson was booked into the Canyon County Jail.
According to police, Anderson is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter, aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an injury accident.
Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the collision or the specific allegations supporting the DUI charge.
The crash remains under investigation by the Middleton Police Department and Idaho State Police. Investigators have not released further information about the sequence of events or whether additional charges could be filed.
Police said they are continuing to work to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
The Middleton Police Department expressed condolences to the teenager’s parents, family, friends, classmates and others affected by his death as the community mourns the loss of a young student.