Local News
Suspect arrested in Sebring murder
Jay Meisel | Highlands Today
Published: February 4, 2013
SEBRING - The city's first murder of 2012 may have stemmed from a $5 debt, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.Published: February 4, 2013
Dwayne Alexis Collins, 18, 1012 Grand Ave, Sebring, who was arrested after he surrendered to police, yelled about a $5 debt before shooting Johnny Theodore Thomas, 32, a witness told police, the arrest warrant affidavit said.
Collins was charged with murder without premeditation and possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent.
Sebring Police Lt. Bruce Crum said that the investigation continues.
Police had received a call early Friday morning about a possible shooting at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Lemon Street.
At the scene, the warrant affidavit said, police found Thomas lying in a pool of blood, with what "appeared to be a gunshot wound to the face just under his right eye."
While being transported to a hospital, Thomas died enroute, the affidavit said.
Meanwhile, police located a witness who told them that Thomas was walking toward the Washington Heights Convenience Store at 755 Lemon Avenue when a person the witness knows as "Wayne Wayne," approached Thomas, the affidavit said.
"The witness said 'Wayne Wayne' shoved Thomas and was yelling at him about $5," the affidavit said. "The witness advised 'Wayne Wayne' then shot Thomas in the face before Thomas could respond to him and then ran from the scene," the affidavit said.
The witness later identified Collins as being "Wayne Wayne," the affidavit said.
Thomas was shot with a large-caliber handgun at point blank range, the affidavit added.
Collins is a convicted felon, the affidavit said. The affidavit said that as of April 17, 2012, Collins was a 10th grade student at Sebring High School.
No bond was set for Collins on the murder charge.
jmeisel@highlandstoday.com (863) 386-5834