On the morning of April 29, 2022, Theodore Julius Collins, a 37-year-old Black / African American man, went to a residence on the 2400 block of Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis. He was there to confront the mother of his children about an issue involving their child. An argument ensued outside the home between Collins and the woman.
A man named Dedric Maurice Willis, 26, who was at the residence, became involved in the dispute.
The argument escalated, and Collins slapped Willis in the face. In response, Willis pulled out a handgun and shot Collins once in the torso. As Collins fell, Willis reportedly fired several more shots into the air. Shortly after the shooting, an SUV arrived at the scene, and a woman identified as Collins's girlfriend got out and fired a handgun at Willis as he fled.
Minneapolis police officers, who were dispatched to the area around 8:30 a.m. as shots were still being fired, found Collins with a life-threatening gunshot wound. He was transported to North Memorial Medical Center, where he died later that morning. The incident was recorded as the 30th homicide in Minneapolis that year.
Officers apprehended Dedric Maurice Willis as he was running from the scene and recovered a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun that he allegedly discarded. A woman was also taken into custody at the scene, and a gun was recovered from her as well. Willis claimed he acted in self-defense because he had been slapped. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. In February 2023, a jury found Willis guilty of second-degree unintentional murder. He was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
