In an act of retaliatory violence, Police Officer Ben C. Collins was shot and killed outside of his own home in Oklahoma. The fatal encounter was witnessed by his wife. Officer Collins was targeted by a hitman in retribution for a prior incident where he had shot an armed fugitive. This brazen attack was carried out by a notorious outlaw and assassin known as Jim Miller, who used a shotgun to end the officer's life.
The motive behind the murder was directly linked to Officer Collins'
duties as a law enforcement officer. His previous actions in the line of duty, specifically the shooting of an armed fugitive, had unfortunately made him a target. The decision to hire a contract killer to exact revenge culminated in the tragic events that unfolded in front of his family home, leaving a lasting impact on the community and his loved ones.
Following the murder of Officer Collins, the suspect, Jim Miller, remained at large for a period. However, his life of crime eventually caught up with him. In 1909, Miller was arrested in connection with the murder of Marshal Zeke Putnam of the Allen, Oklahoma, Police Department. Before he could be brought to trial, a lynch mob broke into the jail where he was being held. Along with three other men, Miller was hung by the mob, bringing a violent end to his notorious career as an outlaw and assassin. Officer Collins is buried in Garden of Memory Cemetery in Colbert, Bryan County, Oklahoma.
