Garrison Collins, a 63-year-old African American man from Peoria, Illinois, passed away on February 28, 2017. Collins, affectionately known as "Butch," was a Navy veteran and a respected member of his community. He was actively involved in his church, St. Paul Baptist Church in Peoria, where he participated in the United Voices Choir, Men of Excellence Praise Team, and the Drama Ministry. Collins was found dead in his basement, and his death was later determined to be the result of a fatal shooting during a botched robbery.
The investigation into Collins' death revealed that he had been targeted by Samantha Gordon, a 21-year-old woman from South Peoria, and her accomplice, Michael Howard, a 27-year-old man. Gordon and Howard had planned to rob Collins, but the situation escalated, leading to Collins being shot. During the trial, it was revealed that Gordon was at Collins' home under the pretense of needing gas money, which Collins generously provided. However, Howard entered the home, and an altercation ensued, resulting in Collins being shot. The weapon and Collins' wallet were later found hidden in a speaker at Howard's residence.
Gordon was convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with Collins' death. She was sentenced to 38 years in prison, a term that was significantly less than the 56-year sentence initially proposed in a plea deal. The judge ruled that the plea deal was improper because it relied on an underlying offense of robbery to support the murder charge. Under Illinois law, a person can be charged with murder if a death occurs during the commission of a forcible felony, such as robbery, even if the person did not intend to kill the victim.
Howard was also convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery. He was sentenced to 47 years in prison. During the trial, Howard claimed that he did not plan to rob Collins and that the shooting was accidental. However, the jury rejected his defense, and he was found guilty. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of the crime and the impact it had on Collins' family and community. Collins' brother, Steve Collins, spoke during the trial about the profound loss their family had experienced and the lasting pain caused by his brother's untimely death.
