A romantic evening in Jacksonville, Florida, took a violent turn when a man’s former girlfriend allegedly shot his current partner in the head. The incident occurred on Saturday night, with local law enforcement responding to a distress call at the intersection of McDuff Avenue and Post Street. Upon arrival, they discovered a woman suffering from a gunshot wound to her head.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Latorray Collins, was found at the scene with a handgun tucked into her waistband. A single .380 caliber shell casing was also discovered at the scene, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
The man, who had recently ended his relationship with Collins, told deputies that she had been texting him earlier that day, offering to return his belongings that were still at her home. He declined her offer, asking her to dispose of his items instead. He had planned to spend the evening with his former girlfriend, who was the victim in this case, and some of her family members.
The group had met at a liquor store and were leaving when Collins reportedly began calling the man incessantly. He spotted Collins in her car at a stoplight, where she allegedly blocked his vehicle. He managed to maneuver around her and drive off, but she reportedly continued to follow him.
At another stoplight, Collins allegedly approached her ex-boyfriend’s car and began knocking on his window aggressively. When the victim’s family members, who were in a separate car, came to investigate, an argument ensued between Collins and the victim. The man attempted to intervene and defuse the situation.
According to the affidavit, it was at this point that Collins allegedly shot the victim in the head. The victim was rushed to the hospital in an unresponsive state. Her current medical condition has not been disclosed.
After being read her rights, Collins told the police that she had approached her ex-boyfriend’s car to ask for marijuana. She claimed that an argument broke out and someone threw a cup of alcohol at her. Collins stated that she had intended to fire her gun into the air to scare off the group, but the firearm discharged accidentally. She expressed disbelief that she had shot the victim, as that had not been her intention.
Collins has been charged with second-degree attempted murder and is currently being held in the Duval County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Her court date is set for March 11.