Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

East St. Louis man shot to death in quarrel over woman

WASHINGTON PARK -- Police on Monday arrested a 25-year-old Centreville man in the shooting death Sunday afternoon of a 34-year-old East St. Louis man.

Police are holding the suspect, who lives in the 7000 block of Edna Street, pending charges. They said the shooting resulted from an argument over a woman.

The victim was identified by police as George W. Collins III, of 650 N. 51st St. in East St. Louis. He was killed just before 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the 5600 block of Warren Avenue, police said.

"Collins and the suspect got into a quarrel over an unnamed female," Washington Park Detective Kim L. McAfee said. "The shooter left and returned moments later. He saw the victim, George Collins, and called him over to him. The victim started walking towards the car where the suspect was, and the suspect shot him."

Police knew the identity of the suspect and searched for him all day Monday. McAfee was in the Belleville area taking care of some business and spotted the suspect and his girlfriend moving out of an apartment on Dutch Hollow Road.

"He saw me, recognized my car, got into his vehicle and drove off," McAfee said.

McAfee follwed the suspect, who was driving his girlfriend's silver Mitsubishi, to East St. Louis. Then, "a high speed chase began as he tried to avoid an arrest. He gave up in the 1100 block of N. 85th Street."

The victim's mother, Reva White, said this is the second tragedy in her family.

"My 15-year-old son, Anthony White, was killed in St. Louis in 1995," she said. "His uncle got into an argument with somebody and he didn't tell anyone about it. They came back and shot his house up. My son was inside, and he got killed."

Asked whether she knew the man who killed George Collins, White said she did not. She said she last spoke to her son the night before the shooting.

George Collins was a good person who did not like arguing, White said.

"He did not hold grudges against anybody. He knew a lot of people and got along with everybody, White said.

Collins leaves a 15-year-old daughter, White said.

White said she is leaning on her faith to pull her through, but she admits it is not easy. She pleaded for the killings in the East St. Louis area to stop.

"Someone needs to step in and do something to stop these killings," White said.

Serenity Funeral Home in Belleville is handling the funeral arrangements.