The African American victim was a 32-year-old individual who was known to friends and the community as Jasmine Collins but was identified in official police and court records as Jermaine J. Collins. On the early morning of June 23, 2015, a violent altercation broke out at the Holiday Apartments in a neighborhood often referred to as 'The Bottoms' in Kansas City, Missouri. The dispute reportedly began between Collins and a woman named Tia Townsel in Townsel's apartment, where Collins had gone to get a haircut. Tensions escalated into a physical fight that was allegedly sparked by an argument over a pair of Vans shoes.
The confrontation spilled out from the apartment into the complex's parking lot, drawing the attention of witnesses. During the struggle, Collins reportedly struck Townsel in the head with a vodka bottle. In retaliation, Townsel retrieved a knife from her residence and returned to the parking lot. Witnesses described seeing Townsel make stabbing motions toward Collins, who attempted to retreat before collapsing on the grass. Bystanders who tried to intervene and administer aid reported that Townsel acted aggressively toward them and made disparaging remarks about the victim as Collins lay dying from a single stab wound to the chest.
Police arrived at the scene to find trails of blood leading between the parking lot and Townsel's apartment. Townsel was taken into custody and subsequently charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. During the legal proceedings, the defense argued the actions were in self-defense, citing the initial strike with the bottle, while prosecutors highlighted the pursuit with a deadly weapon. In March 2017, a Clay County jury convicted Tia Townsel of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter as well as armed criminal action. She was later sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison, with 30 years for the manslaughter count and a consecutive 10-year term for the weapons charge.
