Keith Collins Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in 2014 Killings

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Keith Collins, Jr., of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of First-Degree Murder and Attempted First-Degree Murder. The jury will now determine whether Collins will receive the Death Penalty or Mandatory Life in Florida State Prison. The penalty phase is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Nov. 5, 2018.

On Jan. 4, 2014, Collins arrived at the Canterbury Garden Apartments on South Lane Avenue with Latricia Johnson after picking her up from work. When they arrived at the apartment, Collins and victim Emanuel Robinson got into an argument over sleeping arrangements in the apartment. That altercation turned violent when Collins retrieved a handgun and shot Robinson multiple times. Collins then shot victim Kaila Exford, who was with Robinson — she survived only by feigning death in a bed. Johnson attempted to escape through a back patio and Collins shot her multiple times. Both Robinson and Johnson died at the scene. All of the individuals knew each other and Exford positively identified Collins as the shooter. He was picked up the next day on the Southside wearing the same clothes worn during the crime.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Mark Caliel, Michael Kennedy, and Christina Stifler.