Edward Collins, a 25-year-old male of African American ethnicity, tragically died on November 6, 2020, in Wichita Falls, Texas. Collins was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Highpoint Village Apartments. According to witness statements, Collins was involved in an altercation with three men in a car, during which he introduced a firearm. The situation escalated, resulting in Collins being shot multiple times before he managed to exit the car.
He was taken to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The investigation led to the arrest of three suspects: Julian Andrew Byrd, Kali Yance Tremaine Beal, and Demasia Torris Delgado. Byrd was arrested on December 3, 2020, and Delgado turned himself in the same day. Beal was arrested a few days later. All three were charged with murder and faced significant legal battles over the next few years.
In a surprising turn of events, the Wichita County District Attorney's Office dropped the murder charges against Beal and Delgado in February 2025. The decision was based on evidence suggesting that Collins had introduced the firearm into the altercation, and the state lacked sufficient evidence to refute the self-defense claims made by the accused. Judge Jeff McKnight signed off on the dismissal of charges. Byrd's charges were also dropped earlier in August 2024 after he provided information about the shooting and a drug deal and fled the scene before shots were fired.
The case highlights the complexities of legal proceedings and the challenges of proving self-defense in violent altercations. Collins' death remains a tragic incident, and the dropped charges have left many questions unanswered about the events leading up to his untimely demise.
