A Tennessee man, Demontra Collins, is facing criminal homicide charges after allegedly shooting and killing 27-year-old Jamel Sutton in Chattanooga earlier this year. Collins reportedly made chilling statements after the shooting, including telling police, “I’m coming in,” and “He ain’t coming back.”
The Incident
The deadly altercation took place on May 14, 2023, when Collins reportedly drove by Sutton, who was buckling a child’s car seat into the back of a vehicle.
The two had been involved in an ongoing dispute, and when Collins saw Sutton, he parked his vehicle, approached him, and an argument led to both men exchanging gunfire. Sutton was struck by the bullets and later died at the hospital. Collins, however, was unharmed.
After the shooting, Collins drove to a different location and called the police, claiming that he acted in self-defense. Despite his claims, police arrested him and charged him with criminal homicide.
Testimony and Investigation
During the investigation, a police detective testified that Collins made a phone call after the shooting in which he allegedly stated, “I’m coming in,” and that Sutton “ain’t coming back.”
These statements were considered by authorities to indicate the suspect’s awareness of the severity of the situation and his involvement in the fatal shooting.
The victim, Jamel Sutton, and his girlfriend had reportedly been in the same work environment as Collins at a local club. Sutton had picked up his girlfriend and her children, all under the age of four, before the shooting.
Sutton was allegedly in the process of securing the car seat when Collins suddenly appeared in a white Jeep, stepped out with a gun in hand, and started firing. Police say Collins fired as many as 12 rounds, while Sutton only managed to return fire twice.
Self-Defense Claim and Legal Proceedings
Collins’ attorney argued that Sutton had pointed a gun at him a couple of days before the shooting, which allegedly led Collins to believe Sutton was reaching for a weapon when he drove by on the day of the incident.
However, authorities did not find sufficient evidence to support a self-defense claim, and Collins was arrested and charged with criminal homicide.
A judge recently ruled that there was enough evidence to move the case to a higher court. Collins posted a $250,000 bond and is currently under house arrest as the case continues.
This case highlights the complexities of self-defense claims in violent encounters and the tragic consequences of disputes turning deadly. As the legal proceedings move forward, Collins’ fate will be determined in a higher court. Meanwhile, the community and family of Jamel Sutton continue to seek justice.
