Atlanta-area fugitive arrest leaves officer injured as authorities detail charges and ongoing extradition process

Officer injured during capture of murder fugitive after interstate manhunt

An Atlanta-area law enforcement officer was injured during the arrest of a fugitive sought on murder-related charges, in an incident that underscored the risks tied to apprehending suspects facing violent felony allegations.

The most recent case involved a DeKalb County fugitive who left the state during an active murder trial and was later located in Birmingham, Alabama. Authorities identified the fugitive as Jeremy Collins, 29, who was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in the August 2021 killing of Keng Wilson. Investigators said Collins stopped appearing in court while the trial continued in his absence, ending with a conviction and a life sentence.

Deputies and federal marshals tracked Collins to Birmingham and took him into custody on Jan. 15, 2026. Authorities reported that the arrest involved an altercation with law enforcement, after which Collins was treated for injuries at a local hospital. He remained in custody in Jefferson County, Alabama, awaiting extradition back to DeKalb County as of Jan. 20, 2026.

What happens next: custody, transport and court proceedings

In interstate fugitive cases, extradition is the process used to return a defendant from one jurisdiction to another. After an out-of-state arrest, the person is typically held locally while paperwork is completed and court hearings are scheduled to authorize transfer. Once extradition is finalized, the defendant is transported back to the originating jurisdiction to face sentencing, post-trial motions, or other pending proceedings.

Fugitive arrests can rapidly escalate

Arrests involving suspects wanted for homicide can become volatile even when the initial contact is intended to be controlled. Recent Atlanta-area law enforcement encounters show the range of outcomes that can arise during efforts to detain armed or high-risk suspects, including injuries to officers, suspects, and bystanders.

• In one Atlanta incident on Jan. 15, 2026, an officer working security at a city warming center encountered a dispute that escalated into gunfire. A suspect was taken into custody and treated for a broken arm, while the victim and a bystander were hospitalized.
• In another case from 2024, a veteran Atlanta officer assigned to a fugitive unit was shot during an attempt to arrest a murder suspect at a residence outside the city; the suspect later was found dead. The wounded officer was hospitalized and expected to recover.

Arrests tied to homicide investigations often involve layered risks: the potential for weapons, unpredictable resistance, and the complexity of coordinating multiple agencies across jurisdictions.

Authorities have not released additional details about the injuries sustained by the officer in the Collins arrest or the specific circumstances of the altercation. The extradition process is expected to determine when Collins is returned to DeKalb County custody.