In the quiet, early morning hours of July 17, 2021, the life of 16-year-old Nicholas Dion Collins, a young man with a promising future, was tragically cut short by an act of gun violence in his former hometown of Flint, Michigan. Nicholas, a male who resided in Lilburn, Georgia, was back in the city where he was born when the fatal incident unfolded.
He was remembered as a strong, successful, and educated individual with a deep passion for basketball, a sport he was committed to pursuing as a career.
The shooting occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. outside a residence in the 400 block of East Bishop Avenue on the city's northwest side. In the immediate aftermath, a wounded Nicholas, along with another teenager, a 17-year-old male who had sustained a gunshot wound to his leg, arrived at Hurley Medical Center. While the 17-year-old was listed in good condition, Nicholas succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The surviving teen's identity was not publicly released.
The Flint Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the homicide, seeking to piece together the events that led to the deadly shooting. Despite their efforts, information about a potential suspect or suspects and the motive behind the violence has remained elusive. The case has grown cold, and no arrests have been made in connection with the death of Nicholas Dion Collins.
In an effort to generate new leads, Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County has featured Nicholas's case, appealing to the public for any information that might help solve this tragic and unsolved homicide. They are offering a cash reward for tips that lead to an arrest, emphasizing that informants can remain anonymous. The plea for public assistance continues in the hope of bringing a measure of justice to a family and community still mourning the loss of a young life full of potential.
