‘Love me enough to turn yourself in’: Family pleads for homicide suspect to surrender

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — While the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office continues its manhunt for 28-year-old Jaylan McCollins , a family is grieving the loss of two loved ones.

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

“He told her like the only way you’re gonna leave me is in a body bag,” Frank Gottie said. “And that’s what he did and now we gotta prepare a funeral.”

It’s a situation Gottie is struggling to accept.

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

“It’s been rough because usually you see stuff happening in other families or in movies, things like that,” Gottie said. “You never wake up and think this be happening at your doorstep.”

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

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

Family members say that he and his girlfriend Anthonese Stewart had gotten into an argument when she tried to end their three-year relationship.

In a rage, McCollins allegedly shot Stewart and her father Gary Newman, who was trying to protect her.

“It’s just senseless,” Sonya Witherspoon said. “He wasn’t in control of his emotions properly for a young man.”

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

“Very kind man,” Witherspoon said of Gary. “A family man as much as to allow Jaylan into his home to be able to commit this horrendous act.”

The family said they loved McCollins as if he were blood, which makes coming to terms with these allegations even more heartbreaking.

Stewart’s mother didn’t want to go on camera but had a message for McCollins.

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

Deputies say McCollins is armed and dangerous.

If you have any information about his whereabouts, you are urged to call 901-222-5600.

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