Attempted capital murder charges filed on Caraway shooter

JONESBORO – Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington announced last Wednesday he filed two counts of attempted capital murder charges against a Caraway man who shot at two police officers, injuring one, in January.

Eugene Collins, 49, was charged in the Eastern District of Craighead County. Collins, who is held in the Craighead County jail on a $5 million bond, also faces seven charges of aggravated assault and seven charges of terroristic threatening.

Police said Collins threatened to kill seven people inside a home on Craighead County Road 847 near Caraway on Jan. 20. When police were called, Collins fled. His vehicle became stuck in a field and Collins began firing a 12-gauge shotgun at police when they confronted him.

Pellets struck Craighead County deputy Logan Dotson in the head. Dotson returned fired and was later treated at a Jonesboro hospital. Police said Collins also fired at Caraway Police Chief Shannon Kelems and struck his police car.

After a two-hour standoff, Collins surrendered. He was not injured.

Ellington said he filed the attempted capital murder charges, which are punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison, because of the seriousness of the act.

“We filed the most serious class of charges [against Collins] because of the senseless acts of violence against those who protect and serve our community,” he said. “The officers are lucky to be alive.”

Ellington further applauded the courage of Chief Kelems and Deputy Dotson for the way they conducted themselves and performed their duties in a highly stressful situation.

Ellington said that all suspects charged with crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

Collins will be arraigned in the Eastern District of Craighead County Circuit Court in Lake City on Feb. 19.

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Culture Historian Hagstrom Miller to speak at A-State event

JONESBORO – In celebration of Black History Month, Arkansas State University Museum will host a lecture by culture historian Dr. Karl Hagstrom Miller, chair and associate professor in the McIntire Department of Music at the University of Virginia, on Thursday, Feb. 20.

His 3-5 p.m. presentation is free and open to the public.

Hagstrom Miller, who is author of the book, “Segregating Sound,” will speak on “Hearing Race and Region in American Popular Music.” Visitors will consider such topics as whether musical styles are black, white, or otherwise racial in origin during an open discussion.

Those attending Hagstrom Miller’s Black History Month lecture also will have an opportunity to experience the museum’s newest traveling exhibition, “For All the World to See.”

Visitors to this immersive and engaging exhibition will explore dozens of compelling images and objects relating to the civil rights movement. The exhibition is on display until March 16.

“For All the World to See” is made possible by NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and sponsored by A-State Office of Diversity and Community Engagement.

For more information about this or any other ASU Museum event, contact Jill Kary, curator of education, jkary@astate.edu or 870-9722074.