CHATTANOOGA, TN – Authorities say a Chattanooga man charged in a fatal shooting earlier this year turned himself in shortly after the incident, telling police over the phone that he was surrendering, and that the victim would not return.
Demontra Collins, 34, faces a charge of criminal homicide in connection with the death of 27-year-old Jamel Sutton on May 14. Police responded to a shooting report just before 4 p.m. in the 1200 block of North Hickory Street, where officers found Sutton suffering from gunshot wounds. Sutton was transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.
Investigators said Sutton had been buckling a child’s car seat in the back of a vehicle when Collins allegedly drove by and saw him. The two men, who reportedly had a history of disputes, then engaged in an exchange of gunfire. While both were armed, only Sutton was struck by bullets, according to police accounts.
Following the shooting, Collins drove away from the scene and later called police to report the incident, claiming that he had fired his weapon in self-defense. He was taken into custody and charged after speaking with officers.
At a courthouse hearing last week, a judicial official ruled that evidence was sufficient to move Collins’ case to a higher court. During testimony, a detective recounted Collin’s statement during his call to police after the shooting, emphasizing that Collins expressed his intention to surrender and remarked on Sutton’s fate.
Further investigation revealed that both Sutton and his girlfriend had previously worked alongside Collins at a local club. On the day of the incident, Sutton had picked up his girlfriend and her three young children, all under the age of 4, before driving to the house where the shooting occurred. As Sutton was preparing the car seat, Collins reportedly arrived in a white Jeep, exited the vehicle holding a firearm, and opened fire, according to witness accounts.
Authorities said that Collins may have fired up to a dozen shots, while Sutton fired his weapon twice in response. No injuries to the children were reported.
Defense counsel for Collins argued that Sutton had threatened his client days before the shooting by pointing a firearm at him. The attorney also noted that Collins believed Sutton might have been reaching for a weapon when Collins drove by and encountered him at the scene.
Records show that Collins was released after posting a $250,000 bond and is currently under house arrest while awaiting further court proceedings. The investigation remains ongoing as the case advances through the judicial system.