Family asks murder suspect to contact police

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – As the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office continues to search for 28-year-old Jaylan McCollins, a family mourns the loss of two loved ones.

Family members told WREG that a young woman and her father were killed early Monday morning. They say the tragedy was the result of a separation that turned violent.

“He told her the only way he could leave me was in a body bag,” Frank Gottie said. “And that’s what he did, and now we have to prepare a funeral.”

It’s a situation that Gottie finds difficult to accept.

Known to many in Memphis as a community activist who dedicated his life to making Memphis safer, he experienced firsthand the impact violence can have on a family after the unexpected deaths of his brother and niece.

“It was hard because normally you see things happening in other families or in movies, stuff like that,” Gottie said. “You never wake up and think that something like that is happening on your doorstep.”

Officers responded to a shooting on Newfound Gap Road early Monday morning.

They say the man responsible for the shooting was Jaylan McCollins.

Family members said an argument broke out between him and his girlfriend, Anthone Stewart, when she tried to end their three-year relationship.

In a fit of rage, McCollins allegedly shot Stewart and her father, Gary Newman, who tried to protect her.

“This is just senseless,” said Sonya Witherspoon. “For a young man, he didn’t have his emotions under control.”

Witherspoon is Anthony’s aunt and Gary’s sister-in-law.

“A very kind man,” Witherspoon said of Gary. “A family man who lets Jaylan into his house to commit this horrific act.”

The family said they loved McCollins as if he were their biological brother, which makes processing these allegations all the more heartbreaking.

Stewart’s mother did not want to appear on camera, but had a message for McCollins.

“I’d love it if you turned yourself in, son – I still call you son,” she said. “Do it for me. You said you loved me, loved me enough to turn yourself in.”

Deputies say McCollins is armed and dangerous.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call 901-222-5600.