Police arrest two suspects in Monday murder

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Police arrest two suspects in Monday murder

By Anthony Powell

WICHITA, Kansas, May 12, 2008 – Multiple sources confirm Jim Collins was shot and then run over Monday morning in the middle of a downtown Wichita street.

Police believe around 8 a.m. Monday morning, Jim Collins was alone at this car dealership, Marquis Motors, when after some sort of initial confrontation, he was kidnapped and forced into a client’s black Hummer.

Minutes later, police say there was another struggle between Collins and his kidnappers in the middle of the street in the 500 block of S. St. Francis.

In broad daylight, with a crowd of people watching, Collins was murdered.

"Citizens tell us they shot the gentleman, and then drove up the block, turned around and came back and ran over him,” said Deputy Chief Tom Stolz with the Wichita Police Department.

"The guy was screaming for his life,” said one witness.

That’s how Lee Thompson saw it too; on video from his surveillance camera that was aimed right where Collins was killed.

"They shot him and then took off down St. Francis,” Thompson said. “And then when this guy went to pull him off of the street -- and maybe they saw that I don't know and thought, ‘we'd better make sure he's dead,’ so they spun around south of Kellogg.”

Police took most of the video for evidence, but one shot shows the suspects driving back, not even slowing down as they ran Collins over.

Authorities say the two men quickly ditched the Hummer. But minutes later, they arrested an 18-year-old.

“We had several witnesses, several civilian witnesses and citizen witnesses who stepped forward on this case and assisted us tremendously,” Stolz said.

After a foot search, investigators found the murder weapon and other key pieces of evidence. As for the man laying dead in the street, Lee says he recognized him as Collins; a friend and someone he frequently did business with.

"He was a very nice guy, very knowledgeable on cars,” Lee said.

Police also arrested a 24-year-old suspect Monday afternoon. He is believed to have been a former employee of Collins'.

Investigators are still looking into whether shots were fired inside Marquee Motors. They did say the 24-year-old does have a long criminal history.


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