Coweta County (October 29, 2022) – Police were called to a Palmetto neighborhood in reference to a person being shot to find multiple neighbors involved in an incident with suspect Christopher Collins.
When police spoke with the victim, a nearby neighbor, he informed police he had been playing in the front yard with his children when two male subjects drove by in ATVs at high speed. He attempted to contact the two individuals, asking them to please stop due to his children playing in the street.
When confronted, Collins became hostile and angry toward him. To avoid confrontation, the neighbor took his children inside. About 45 minutes later, he observed a red Dodge pickup truck and blue Jeep Cherokee driving up and down his roadway at high speed, with Collins driving the red truck holding what looked like a revolver out the window.
The neighbor observed Collins discharge approximately 3 to 4 rounds and do a burnout on the road. He attempted to confront Collins, but he sped away.
The neighbor provided police with video footage on his phone of the two vehicles driving recklessly, and police were able to observe a fresh skid mark in the middle of the roadway. They also asked the neighbor if he had ever brandished a weapon in return, which he stated he did not.
Police spoke with another witness on the scene, a man who lives in the neighborhood as well. This witness ran into his home for safety purposes. He stated he observed a red Dodge pickup truck about 15 feet away from his home and that the male subject, identified as Collins, exited his vehicle and discharged the revolver 3 to 4 times before fleeing the scene.
When speaking with Collins about the incident, he stated that he and his wife were driving around the neighborhood in his red Dodge pickup truck to ensure the truck was operating in good condition, as they had just bought it from a friend. When he attempted to contact them, they became angry and hostile, so he fled the scene to try and de-escalate the situation. He stated that the initial victim and his family had given them the middle finger for no apparent reason.
Collins states an unknown subject shot 3 to 4 rounds in the air and fled the scene. He says that he was shot in the left upper thigh, to which EMT provided aid. When officers questioned Collins whether he had firearms, he stated, “No, I am a convicted felon. I cannot carry firearms.”
When speaking with Collins’s wife, she recounted the story that Collins had given police.
Investigators were called to the scene and determined that Collins did, in fact, discharge the weapon and lied to police about what had occurred during the incident. He was arrested and transported to Coweta County Jail, where he was charged with child cruelty, reckless conduct, weapon-firearm possession by a convicted felon, tampering with evidence, and false report of a crime.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On 10/29/2022 at approximately 1842 hrs I, Deputy Evans was dispatch to [100 BLOCK] Sweetbriar Dr. in reference to a person shot.
Upon my arrival, I made contact with a male subject who’s identified as Mr. [WITNESS #1] [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1993. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated he observed two male subjects who appears to be driving in a high rate speed with their ATV’s. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated he attempted to make contact with the individuals to stop riding their ATV’S due to Mr. [WITNESS #1]’s children were playing in the middle of the street.
Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated the male subject became irate and hostile in a verbal manner towards Mr. [WITNESS #1] at this time. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated he attempted to avoid confrontation with the male subject by taking his children in the house, and staying away from the male subject. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated approximately 45 minutes later, he observed a red Dodge pickup truck, blue Jeep Cherokee, driving up and down his roadway at a high rated speed for no apparent reason.
Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated the male subject driving the red Dodge pickup truck was holding a firearm which looked like a revolver, hanging out of his window. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated he observed the male subject discharged approximately 3 to 4 rounds in the air and burnt out on the road. While speaking to Mr. [WITNESS #1], I observed a fresh skid mark in the middle of the road at this time. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated he attempted to confront the male subject for discharging his firearm in the air but the male subject fled the scene.
Mr. [WITNESS #1] also had camera footage of the two vehicles driving in the roadway in a reckless manner which I was able to observe on his phone. I questioned Mr. [WITNESS #1], at any point of time did he brandished a weapon. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated no. After gathering further information from Mr. [WITNESS #1], I then made contact with a witness who’s identified as Mr. [WITNESS #2] [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1985.
Mr. [WITNESS #2] stated he was standing outside, in front of his driveway, when he observed a male subject in a red in color Dodge pickup truck stopped approximately 15 feet away from his residence. Mr. [WITNESS #2] stated the male subject had on a red shirt, blue jeans, ball cap and long blonde hair. Mr. [WITNESS #2] stated he observed the male subject exited out of his vehicle and brandished a revolver and discharged approximately 3 to 4 rounds in the air. Mr. [WITNESS #2] stated he didn’t know what direction of travel the male subject fled to after he shot rounds off in the air. Mr. [WITNESS #2] stated he ran in the house for safety purposes.
Once I gather Mr. [WITNESS #2] story, I then made contact with the male subject who match the description Mr. [WITNESS #2] gave me at this time. The male subject who match the description is Mr. Christopher Collins [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1980. Mr. Collins stated before my arrival, him and his wife were driving his red in color Dodge pickup truck around the neighborhood. Mr. Collins stated he was driving his truck around because he brought it from a friend and he wanted to be sure it was operating in good condition.
Mr. Collins stated while he was driving his vehicle around, Mr. [WITNESS #1] and his family displayed their middle fingers towards him for no apparent reason. Mr. Collison stated he attempted to make contact with Mr. [WITNESS #1] but he stated Mr. [WITNESS #1] was too hostile and irate in a verbal manner at this time. Collins stated he attempted to deescalate the scene by driving away.
Mr. Collins stated an unknown subject discharged approximately 3 to 4 rounds and fled from the scene. Mr. Collins advised me he was shot in the left upper thigh. I observed a small abrasion on Mr. Collins’s upper left thigh. Coweta County Fire Rescue was able to render aide on Mr. Collins wound. I questioned Mr. Collins do you have any firearms on his person. Mr. Collins stated “No, I’m a convicted felon, I cannot carry any firearms”.
After gathering information from Mr. Collins, I then made contact with his girlfriend who was identified as Ms. [WITNESS #3] [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1980. Ms. [WITNESS #3] stated she was in a red in color pickup truck with Mr. Collins riding around due to their truck recently been fixed. Ms. [WITNESS #3] stated they drove pass Mr. [WITNESS #1] house, Ms. [WITNESS #3] stated Mr. [WITNESS #1] and his family flipped them off with their middle fingers for no specific reason.
Ms. [WITNESS #3] stated they turned around to see why Mr. [WITNESS #1] and his family flipped them off. Ms. [WITNESS #3] stated once they turned around, they heard gunshots let off at this residence. Ms. [WITNESS #3] stated Mr. Collins was shot in the leg and someone struck their vehicle with a bat. Ms. [WITNESS #3] stated they were able to get away from the scene without any further issues. Ms. [WITNESS #3] filled out a official witness statement form and signed her name.
Investigators were called to the scene for assists. Investigators advised me to transport Mr. Collins to Coweta County Jail which he’ll be charged accordingly.
[End of Narrative]
