Exclusive: Family of teens killed by dad in Garner file complaint against deputy
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Family filed complaint alleging deputy mishandled domestic violence response
- Complaint claims deputy failed to investigate threats or secure reported firearm
- Sheriff’s office acknowledges complaint, cites ongoing investigation and privacy laws
The family of two Wake County teenagers shot by their father in a murder-suicide in June has filed a complaint with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, The News & Observer has learned.
River Collins, 15, and his 13-year-old brother, Jet, were killed June 24 at their Rand Road home near Garner, The N&O previously reported. The boys’ father, 49-year-old Shannon Collins, shot them before setting the house on fire and turning the gun on himself, according to documents from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Two cats were also found dead in the home.
Hours before the killings, the Sheriff’s Office was called to a nearby gas station, where the boys’ mother, Kerrith McDowell, had fled to report a domestic violence incident at the home.
Six days after the murder-suicide, McDowell and her family filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Office alleging the deputy who responded failed to do his job and could have prevented the tragedy, according to documents shared with The N&O.
Here’s what we know.
‘A significant lapse in judgment’
Shortly after 8 p.m. June 23 an employee from the gas station down the street called 911 on McDowell’s behalf, according to a timeline presented in the complaint. During the 11-minute call, McDowell described how Collins had allegedly pinned her shoulders to the couch during an argument over the family vehicle, then kept her from calling 911 by grabbing her phone and unplugging their Amazon Alexa.
As McDowell ran from the home, Collins reportedly chased her, pushing her to the ground, the complaint alleges.
A deputy responded to the scene, according to the complaint. A publicly available incident report confirms the deputy responded but differs from the complaint’s timeline, stating the incident was reported at 6:21 p.m.
It’s unclear how long the deputy was on the scene. As of Thursday afternoon, Wake County had yet to respond to a June 25 records request from The N&O for the 911 call or the dispatch log for the incident.
But, the complaint alleges, the deputy ultimately found no crime had been committed and ordered McDowell and Collins to separate “so we aren’t out here all night.” The deputy reportedly suggested McDowell stay at her brother’s home in Raleigh, but the complaint claims the deputy left before confirming McDowell’s departure.
“Shannon Collins subsequently prevented her leaving by taking the keys for both vehicles,” the complaint states.
Collins then reportedly left the home with River and Jet in tow for roughly half an hour, according to the complaint. When the trio returned, McDowell left for her brother’s home in one of the vehicles, the complaint states.
Nearly four hours later, Raleigh police arrived at McDowell’s brother’s home to involuntarily commit her to WakeMed, according to the complaint. An investigative report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released this week confirmed Collins tried to have McDowell involuntarily committed.
McDowell’s other brother, a former law enforcement officer in New Jersey, subsequently contacted Wake County dispatch to question them about the involuntary commitment, the complaint alleges. The deputy then reportedly spoke with that brother, saying River and Jet had “’vouched’ for [Collins] and blamed [McDowell] for initiating [the] confrontation,” according to the complaint.
That’s when McDowell’s brother allegedly warned the deputy that Collins might have a firearm. He’d allegedly purchased the gun in 2022 without McDowell’s knowledge, but claimed he’d traded it with a Raleigh police officer for a guitar when she asked him to get rid of it, the complaint states.
McDowell’s brother “requested [a] weapons check and removal, to which the deputy provided an ambiguous response,” the complaint alleges.
It’s unclear when McDowell was released from the hospital, but by 8:30 a.m. the next day, she was on her way to the Wake County courthouse to request a protective order, according to the complaint. A passerby saw smoke coming from the home around 9:30 a.m. and called 911, The N&O previously reported. Security camera footage corroborated McDowell was still at the courthouse at that time, according to the OCME report.
The complaint alleges the deputy should have investigated McDowell’s domestic violence complaint more thoroughly and checked the home for firearms, especially because she reportedly told the deputy that Collins had been previously involuntarily committed and had threatened suicide before. Collins had been committed in Wake County as recently as 2024, the complaint states.
It’s unclear how many times 911 had been called to the home before June 23. Wake County denied The N&O’s records request for a list of calls for service to the residence, citing “HIPAA guidelines” and “the potential identification of the individuals and the nature of the calls.”
An attorney for the McDowell family confirmed to The N&O that they filed the complaint with the Sheriff’s Office. “There were multiple opportunities to take steps to prevent the tragic events that occurred at 90 Rand Rd. on June 24, 2025,” the complaint states. “The complainants below request a formal investigation into the numerous failures of [the] Deputy ... and the Wake County Sheriff’s Department.” The complaint also says the family wants “to ensure another tragedy such as this” doesn’t occur.
The Sheriff’s Office declined to answer questions from The N&O but shared the following written statement:
“Thank you for your inquiry regarding these matters. At this time the case is still an active investigation, and we do not have any further details to release. As for the complaint, we are precluded from responding due to state personnel law. While we cannot answer these questions, we can assure you that we take all complaints seriously and investigate them thoroughly. It is the goal of this office to provide the highest level of service to our community.
“When responding to any call for service, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office makes every effort to operate within the bounds of applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards, and we routinely review our practices to ensure alignment with those requirements.
“Our agency extends our deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”
Public records show the deputy has worked for the Sheriff’s Office since at least 2019. As of Thursday afternoon, the McDowells could not be reached for comment.
This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 2:06 PM.
