Teen Shot and Killed in Dyersburg
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An early Saturday morning shooting left a teen dead and now police want your help in finding the accused shooter. Police said they were dispatched to the 1100 block of Parks Thurmond Circle just after 4 a.m. “There are no suspects. We do have a person of interest that investigators are looking for at this time to interview,” said Captain Steve Isbell of the Dyersburg Police Department. Captain Isbell said they are not commenting on whether they think the shooting is gang related, but admit there is a gang problem in Dyersburg. Police identified the victim as Jaron Edward Collins, 17, of Dyersburg. Investigators said Collins was dead when they arrived. Witnesses said Collins had recently moved to the area and was attending high school in Dyersburg. “The gang violence here in this town, it’s out of hand,” said neighbor, Samatra Branch. Branch said her son was killed in Dyersburg in 2007 by a gang member. She said the case remains unsolved. “We have, during the summer months implemented overtime that is funded through a federal grant to put officers on the street to combat gang activities and crime,” said Captain Isbell. Collins was killed just feet from a Dyersburg Police precinct located within the complex. “That is a mini precinct. We have a few across the city,” said Captain Isbell. He said the precinct is not staffed 24 hours a day and is used by the patrolmen who work the area to do paperwork. Authorities urged anyone with information related to the murder to call Dyersburg Police Department at (731) 285-1212 or Dyer County Crime Stoppers at (731) 285-TIPS.
