A Tennessee detective allegedly testified that a homicide suspect was fairly straightforward after shooting a man earlier this year.
“I’m coming in,” the suspect allegedly stated over the phone, adding that the victim “ain’t coming back.”
Demontra Collins, 34, is accused of criminal homicide in the death of Jamel Sutton, 27, on May 14 in Chattanooga. Police responded shortly before 4 p.m. to a report of a shooting in the 1200 block of North Hickory Street, according to a press release. When officers arrived, they discovered Sutton suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the hospital and died.
When Collins drove by and noticed Sutton, detectives determined he was buckling a child’s car seat into the back seat. The two had reportedly fought. Collins parked and approached the victim.
At some point, the two men began shooting at one another. Sutton was hit by gunfire, but Collins was not, according to police. Collins drove to another location and called police to report the shooting, claiming he had fired in self-defense.
However, Collins was arrested on a criminal homicide charge.
According to records, a judge ruled last week that there was sufficient evidence to move the case to a higher court. According to a courtroom report from Chattanoogan.com, a police detective testified that Collins said during a phone call after the shooting, “I’m coming in” and the victim “ain’t coming back.”
The victim and his girlfriend allegedly worked at the same club as Collins. She claimed Sutton picked up her and her children, all under the age of four, and drove them to the house where the shooting took place.
Sutton was fiddling with the car seat when Collins pulled up in a white Jeep, according to Chattanoogan.com. Collins reportedly jumped out of the Jeep, holding a gun, and began firing.
According to police, Collins fired up to 12 rounds while Sutton fired twice.
Collins’ attorney stated that Sutton pointed a gun at his client a few days prior to the shooting. According to the attorney, his client believed Sutton was reaching for a gun in the car as he drove by.
None of the children were injured.
The defendant posted a $250,000 bond and is now under house arrest.
